Linde LLC has introduced a fast and more reliable process to detect leaks in Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP). The high-speed, inline MAPAX® LD leak-detection system will be introduced to the North American market for the first time at the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, GA January 31 through February 2 at booth #B5453.

The patented MAPAX LD system is ideal for packaged meat, poultry, seafood and prepared foods packaged with tray sealers or thermoforming machines. It tests packages in-line and can achieve 100 percent sampling at speeds up to 120 packages per minute.

The inline MAPAX leak-detection system offers high accuracy in real-time. It works by adding a small volume of hydrogen as an indicator to the modified atmosphere mixture at the package sealing stage. The MAPAX LD sensor detects for the gas after the sealed packages travel into the leak-detection unit. Linde supplies MAPAX® modified-atmosphere packaging gases including nitrogen and carbon dioxide to the food industry.

Inline testing is a major advantage over other leak-detection methods such as needle- or immersion testing, which may rely on statistical sampling but typically check only a single package for each batch or test period. With such offline test systems, if a leak is detected, the entire batch is lost, which can result in excessive waste and downtime.

Linde | LindeFood.com