A new high barrier film for vacuum skin packaging (VSP) applications has been developed by Italian specialist Industria Termoplastica Pavese (ITP, Pavia; www.itp.it) in partnership with DuPont Performance Materials (Wilmington, Delaware / USA; www.dupont.com). Developed for food packaging, "Clearpack F" is said to provide multiple benefits including perfect sealing at low processing temperatures, tamper evidence and appealing presentation of the contents. The film can be used for protecting fresh and processed food including meat, seafood or cheese, on bottom trays made from PS foam, rigid PET, PP and combinations of these with PE.

ITP said DuPont’s high performance polymers, including “Surlyn” ionomer, “Bynel” adhesive resin and “Appeel” peelable sealant, as well as an EVOH barrier, were key factors behind the film’s advantageous properties and processing characteristics.

The film is currently available in thicknesses from 80 to 150 micron. It provides a low sealing initiation temperature and low thermoforming temperatures of 130 °C to 150 °C, allowing for significant processing energy savings over traditional VSP solutions, according to ITP’s CEO, Massimo Centonze. He added that first users reported an easy adaptability to their specific VSP machines and excellent results, even when skin packaging chilled food (at 4 °C to 8 °C).

“ITP is currently evaluating several options to further downgauge these peelable VSP barrier films without compromising performance of the final packaging. Beyond, we are in the process of extending our offering with grades for a greater variety of bottom substrates beyond foam PS and rigid APET,” Centonze said.

ITP has also received its first product certification for its bioplastic films. Belgian inspection and certification organisation Vinçotte (Vilvoorde; www.vincotte.com) has certified the coextruded films as biodegradable and compostable under its OK Compost standard EN 13432. ITP’s compostable packaging is mainly used for frozen foods.

ITP, established in 1972, is a privately-held producer of polyolefin films. Since 2000, the company has undertaken various projects with Italian and overseas universities, as well as the National Research Council, to develop high-tech films for packaging. Its portfolio includes adhesive films, lamination films – including sealable, peelable and barrier with EVOH – coextruded masking films as well as labels and films for tubes.