Swiss company Wilco has introduced the first fully automatic, in-line seal integrity tester for trays, cups, bags and pouches at this week's PackExpo Show in Chicago.
This equipment uses an ultrasonic technology to detect wrinkles, incomplete seals, leaks, impurities and dirty seal heads on food packages.
An ultrasonic sensor, mounted inside a specially designed water enclosure and a corresponding water removal system, performs a 100 per cent in-line check of the seal. A water dispensing system forms the contact between the sensor and the seal, resulting in highest resolution and sensitivity. Simultaneously, excess water on the surface is constantly removed.
Each product not meeting specified criteria is automatically removed from the production line, with each reject being verified electronically.
All the systems are approved, allowing the leak detector to be integrated into an already validated process.