Rigid plastics packaging manufacturer Sharp Interpack (Bridgwater / UK; www.sharpinterpack.co.uk) is investing more than GBP 500,000 (EUR 550,000) in tooling and machinery for the production of thermoformed ready-meal containers. The containers will be manufactured from a partially crystalline PET (c-PET) type, which the company says is more cost-effective than existing grades.

Sharp chose to invest in the “Ovenex” dual-ovenable trays because of rising demand from the ready-meals market, driven by consumers eschewing restaurants in the current economic recession in favour of eating at home.

According to ready-meals product manager Seamus Madden, “This current investment, combined with planned future investments in c-PET business, is a reflection of our commitment to grow within this market with an enhanced material providing a commercial edge.”

Ovenex c-PET trays are stable at temperatures from -40 °C to +220 °C and provide an effective barrier to oxygen, water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Sharp also provides c-PET trays for retort processing to create a longer shelf-life in post-sterilisation conditions, such as for steam-heated airline food.