OTR calculator valuable design tool, indicates if package is ‘fit for purpose’

06 May 2011

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A free on-line tool allows packaging designers, producers and food manufacturers to simulate the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) for a range of plastics and gauge the likely shelf life for target products, said Norner.

The Norwegian company said its recently developed OTR calculator is based on a calibrated simulation model to estimate the oxygen transmission rate of plastics packaging material like polypropylene (PP), PET and Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol (EVOH).

The device can be used to test whether an existing or prototype packaging design is “fit for purpose”, said the firm, which specialises in developing innovative technology across a raft of sectors.

Valuable insight

OTR is the measurement of the amount of oxygen gas that passes through a substance over a given period of time.

The calculator can be used to simulate the transmission rate for the gas in a range of realistic conditions for a specific package and thereby gain valuable insight of realistic O2 levels in the package versus time, marketing manager Ole Han Myhre said.

He said it would provide a guide to the estimated shelf life of a packaged product and was especially suitable for simulation of package designs and structural changes in the development phase.

“The main objective of it is to enable calculation of permeability for customer specific packages and geometries,” added the marketing manager. “The model has been verified by tests done on real packaging samples.”

Flexible functionality

The tool can be used to make calculations for film, laminates and flexible packaging, as well as round or square cups and bottles.

Barrier properties of co-injection multilayer and in-mould-label solutions can also be studied and evaluated.

“The combination of geometrical options, permeability properties and environmental conditions provides a useful tool when working with the design, development and application of plastic packaging,” said the firm.

Users have the flexibility to specify number of layers, their thickness and the polymer in each. The calculator can also factor in important environmental parameters - such as temperature, humidity and oxygen concentration - which are key in simulating real life situations, said Norner.

“As far as we know there is no other OTR calculator available with similar functionality and we are happy with the result since the calculator has been tested by selected packaging producers and food companies with good results on accuracy”, said Morten Augestad, advisor in rigid packaging at the company.

Source: Norner