Salad Packaging Machine - Types, Price, and Purchase

Unlike many food products, fresh fruits and vegetables continue to respire after harvest. This process consumes oxygen and produces carbon dioxide and water vapor. The key to keeping these products fresh is proper packaging that reduces respiration while not compromising the product’s quality, flavor, texture, and appearance. Therefore, attention to packaging is of great importance. Packen is one of the manufacturers of food packaging machines. Salad packaging machines are available for purchase and order in various types, including automatic industrial tray sealers, semi-automatic sealers, tabletop manual sealers, vacuum chamber machines, and more.

Considerations for Salad Packaging

Generally, the respiration rate of fruits and vegetables can be reduced by keeping temperatures low, maintaining lower oxygen levels in the packaging atmosphere, and increasing carbon dioxide levels. However, this process is not straightforward. For example, if the oxygen level in the packaging space is too low, a process known as anaerobic respiration can occur. This process can lead to undesirable flavors and odors in the product and cause spoilage. Foods change color and texture for various reasons, including oxidation, enzymatic reactions, microbial growth, and exposure to light:

• Oxidation is a chemical reaction that occurs when oxygen in the air interacts with specific molecules in food, leading to their breakdown and discoloration. This is especially common in cutten fruits and vegetables, such as salad.
• Enzymatic Reactions are chemical reactions caused by enzymes present in the food interacting with other molecules, leading to color changes. For instance, enzymes in fruits and vegetables can cause ripening and color changes.
• Microbial Growth can also cause food color changes. Microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts, and molds can grow on food, altering its color, texture, and flavor.
• Exposure to Light can cause food color changes. Some food products, such as fruits and vegetables, are sensitive to light and can turn brown if exposed for extended periods.

All these factors can be minimized with modified atmosphere packaging. The tray sealers from this company are equipped with MAP (Modified Atmosphere Packaging) technology, which can significantly extend the shelf life of your products.

Types of Pickles Packaging Machines

In the salad packaging process, various machines are used, ranging from automatic to semi-automatic and manual types:

• Automatic tray sealer packaging machine
• Semi automatic tray sealer packaging machine
• Stretch Film Machine
• Manual table top sealing machine
• Thermoforming packaging machine
• Manual Heat Sealer
• Horizontal Heat Sealing Machine

Automatic tray sealer packaging machine

One of the machines manufactured by Packen is the automatic tray sealer packaging machine, which is used for packaging salads. These machines operate fully automatically and package products with high precision. During the packaging process, the operator first places the trays on the machine. Once the trays are filled, the machine uses a modified atmosphere method to first vacuum and remove the natural atmosphere inside the tray, and then injects gas. The gas mixture is pre-registered in a mixing capsule before the process begins. After gas injection, the tray packaging is completed, information is printed on the packaging, and the process is finished.

Auxiliary Equipment Used in the Automatic Tray Sealer Packaging Machine Production Line

In the production line of the automatic tray sealer packaging machine, various machines are used to ensure that the packaging process is carried out with greater accuracy and speed. These auxiliary options include:

• Automatic denester
• Metal detector
• Various fillers
• Weight control systems (checkweigher)
• Automatic rower
• Jet printer and labeler
• Automatic lidder
• Traffic table (rotary table)

Semi automatic tray sealer packaging machine

Other machine used for salad packaging is the semi-automatic tray sealer. The main difference between this machine and the previous one is that some of the steps are performed manually by the operator. Since the semi-automatic method operates at a slower speed, it is used for production by lower capacity. In this process, the operator fills the trays manually. Then, the machine handles the vacuuming, gas injection, and packaging of the trays, completing the process and the process will be ended.

Manual table top sealing machine

The tabletop sealing machine is used for salad packaging in low-capacity production. The process is entirely manual and performed by the operator. After filling the trays, the operator places them inside the machine, places the film over the trays, and completes the packaging by pulling a lever downward.

Thermoforming packaging machine

During the packaging process with a thermoforming machine, the trays are formed by the machine itself. After the tray is formed and cut, the salad ingredients are added, and the gas injection and vacuuming processes are carried out. Finally, the packaged trays are ejected from the machine.

For more information about the thermoforming packaging machine, please refer to the related article.

Salad Packaging Techniques

One of the suitable packaging methods for fruits and vegetables is Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP). Modified atmosphere has a different gas composition compared to the surrounding air. It may have very low oxygen, high carbon dioxide, or, conversely, a very high nitrogen content. The gas mixture should be chosen to optimize it for the specific food product. The goal of using this method is to achieve a state of equilibrium, where oxygen consumption inside the package is replaced by oxygen from outside, and similarly, a stable level of carbon dioxide is maintained. This mechanism only works correctly when breathable plastic films are used. Chopped vegetables do not respire, which allows them to be packaged with ordinary plastic films using the modified atmosphere method. However, whole vegetables that maintain their texture do respire and require a permeable membrane film to ensure that the respiration process and MAP packaging extend the product's shelf life. Modified Atmosphere Packaging involves altering the air composition inside the packaging to extend the shelf life of food. One way to prevent food discoloration is by controlling the oxygen levels within the package. Oxygen can cause some foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to ripen and change color. By reducing the oxygen level inside the package, the rate of oxidation and color change decreases. Particularly in chopped vegetables, simply vacuuming and removing the oxygen from the packaging prevents the product from turning brown, and its shelf life is extended to at least twice as long. Additionally, Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) controls the carbon dioxide levels and prevents the growth of microorganisms that cause color changes.

Advantages of Using Modified Atmosphere Packaging for Salad

Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) offers numerous benefits, including:

• Controlled atmosphere inside the packaging helps slow down the softening process, reduce spoilage, and increase product shelf life, keeping the product crisp, flavorful, and nutritious for a longer period.
• Longer shelf life facilitates broader geographical distribution, exports, and increased sales.
• MAP ensures that consumers have access to healthier products and improves food safety.
• Longer Storage: Consumers can store products for a longer time.
• The production of ethylene, which accelerates the ripening and softening of fruits and vegetables, is reduced.
• Improved packaging durability helps prevent physical damage during transportation.
• MAP helps maintain the product's quality for an extended period, potentially reducing the amount of product waste.

Materials Used for Salad Packaging

• Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) trays: PET is the most commonly used polyester in food packaging. Flexible PET films are used as top layers to cover trays. They have excellent properties, including preventing gas and moisture infiltration, high strength, good optical properties (high transparency), and temperature resistance.
• Polypropylene (PP) trays: Polypropylene can be used in flexible, rigid, and semi-rigid packaging. This material is used to make trays in the thermoforming process.

Various types of films used in salad packaging include:

• Standard Two-Layer Films
• Multilayer Barrier Films
• Anti-Fog Films
• Breathable Films

The Price of Salad Packaging Machines

As you know, various factors influence the price of manufacturing machines. For example, the type of ancillary equipment used, whether the machine is automatic or semi-automatic, the size of the packaging produced, production volume, packaging method, and more all have a significant impact on the price of a salad packaging machine. Therefore, if you intend to purchase and order a salad packaging machine from Packen, please contact us. Our experts will provide you with a price estimate for the machine in the shortest time possible.

Buying the Best Salad Packaging Machine

Since fruits and vegetables continue to respire after harvesting, which leads to their spoilage, packaging these products is crucial. Packaging helps to extend shelf life, maintain freshness, and preserve the nutrients of the products. Packen, with the assistance of its skilled and professional team, manufactures various machines, including salad packaging machines. These machines are available in different sizes, models, and price ranges, allowing you to achieve significant success in the food market. Therefore, if you plan to set up a salad packaging production line, do not miss the opportunity. Contact us and benefit from the guidance of our experts.