MPE electrifies read meat market
Image: MPE UK Ltd
In response to food sectors crying out for sustainable packaging systems, MPE UK has launched the i4 tray sealer primarily for the red meat market.
Like all the company’s machines modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) comes as standard to maintain the colour of red meat which is vital for shelf appeal.
MPE said with the appropriate MAP mixture – typically between 60% and 80% oxygen – red meat retains its appetising colour, with products like beef needing a higher oxygen level than less vividly coloured meats such as pork. MPE’s flexible, high throughput technology is easy to operate and capable of running large format trays, including cardboard packs, while taking up minimal factory floor space.
Aside from the environmental and efficiency credentials, fully electric machines like those manufactured by MPE also offer customers better after-sales support as all the electronics can be monitored, updated and serviced remotely, further reducing a company’s carbon footprint.
There is growing pressure on food and drink packaging companies from governments and consumers to minimise plastic content of products. To concentrate minds on developing new systems April 2022 saw the introduction in the UK of a plastics packaging tax. A shift back to cardboard trays to reduce plastic content can easily be accommodated by MPE’s tray sealers.
Meat processors delivering lines such as joints and sausages are also beneficiaries of the latest tray-sealing technology from MPE, which despite its small stature has extremely deep capacity at 200mm – also perfect for the catering trade.
Inline tray sealers can be used for a variety of applications to increase performance. Features include a self-intuitive user interface, easy and quick tool change, advanced self-diagnostics, rogue object detection and ‘Smart spacing technology’. Pre-heating stations can reduce the already-speedy 10-minute changeover to just five minutes. Last but not least the programming software constantly monitors performance and displays any issues to the user along with a solution.
MPE’s technical director, John Hodgkiss, explained: “All-electric packaging equipment provides red meat processors of all sizes exactly what they need to stay ahead of the packaging innovation curve. Competition in the UK meat and poultry packaging market is rarely anything other than fierce because the industry demands not only the most hygienic solution, but excellent presentation and extended shelf life for retailers. Our equipment can help customers achieve all their objectives.”
