What do I need to seal my food?

What do I need to seal my food?

For what purpose is sealing suitable?

The sealing system is suitable for many applications – regardless of whether you sell or deliver your food directly. Here are some examples:

• If you provide “to go” food as a takeaway business, you have a leak-proof container with a sealed tray on hand. They are also ideal transport packaging for delivery services such as meals on wheels because the subdivision menu tray can also be sealed.
• At your self-service counter, thanks to the transparent film, the sealed container will show your price to the fullest. To ensure hygiene, customers can take this plate directly with them.
• Leftover lunch in the cafeteria can be easily sealed and given to employees as dinner – a worthwhile additional sale. 
• Since GN trays can also be sealed, this system is ideal for store deliveries from central kitchens. For example, even if you supply large quantities of cooked food to the catering industry, organize meals, or provide lunches for kindergartens, schools, or businesses, sealing can make your process easier. 
• Use the trays for internal storage, extend the shelf life of your products through the air-impermeable closure. You can also freeze the sealed containers and thus store them longer.

What do I need to seal my food?

Machine, tray and film – these three components are important when sealing.

Sealing device

The sealing machine is made of stainless steel, which is hygienic and easy to clean. They have a heatable Teflon plate on their lid to seal the casing and aluminium foil, as well as a knife to separate the film from the roll after the sealing process. The film itself is located in the dispenser on the back of the device, from which you can pull the required film forward and place it on the tray. The “counterpart” of the lid is a cassette whose frame fits the size and structure of the corresponding casing. Simply hang it there. For example, if you switch between the two-part and undivided menu tray, you have to change the frame, but this happens quickly.

For one thing, the size of the device itself is different. Small machines (DF 10 and 20) are used to seal single section pallets, while GN pallets are closed on the larger models (DF 15 and 25). These devices are compatible with each other. This means that you can also seal smaller menu trays on the GN tray machine using a suitable adapter frame. If you want to save material, insert a thinner film in this case, thanks to compatibility.

On the other hand, both versions can be used manually and semi-automatically. For beginners, handheld devices (DF 10 and DF 15) are ideal because they are very easy to use and suitable for occasional sealed users. Semi-automatic closing (DF 20 and DF 25) can also be closed manually. However, there is no need to press the lid during the sealing process because the device will automatically remain closed and reopen after the configured sealing time expires.

Sealing bowls

For a clean closure, it is important that the seal tray has a wide, flat edge. The container has a variety of materials to choose from, and their temperature resistance, stability, and transparency are different. You can choose different polypropylene (PP) or cellulose pallets covered with PP in the standard range. The latter is made of vegetable fibres and therefore has a natural appearance. 

Both variants are resistant to cold and heat (20 ° C to +100 ° C for pulp and +120 ° C for pure PP), making them suitable for freezing and heating in the microwave. Round and GN sealing trays are available from us made of PP, with the square menu trays with different subdivisions; you have the choice between PP and pulp. On request, you will also receive containers made of CPET, APET or environmentally friendly bioplastics up to sustainable FSC-certified cardboard.

Sealing films

The transparent film ensures that the shell is securely closed. It can also be made of different materials.

• Universal sealing film The film is suitable for PP, pulp and PET trays and can be used for a sealing temperature between + 140 and 210 °C.
• PP sealing film This film is ideal for sealing trays that are also made of or coated with PP. Thanks to a thicker film thickness, the film is slightly stiffer than the universal film and thus easier to handle. In addition, it has an anti-fog coating so that the film remains clear during hot food and does not fog up.

Read our blog on Sealing – The unbeatable packaging solution