ProAmpac and FirstWave develop aseptic spouted pouches for flexible, small-batch manufacturing

09 Mar 2023 --- ProAmpac and FirstWave Innovations are launching aseptic spouted pouches for baby food, fruit smoothies, coffee and spreads. The tech enables greater manufacturing flexibility for small, custom batches of shelf-stable food packages, ideal for new launches.

FirstWave’s aseptic filling technology and ProAmpac’s short-run pouching capabilities allow co-packers to launch aseptic shelf-stable liquid food in a convenient, flexible, custom-printed spouted pouch. 

FirstWave Innovations is a subsidiary of SinnovaTek and a co-manufacturer of aseptic food products. The new capability is said to be “ideal” for market trials, trade shows, product samples and launches. 

“Spouted pouches continue to replace rigid containers in new applications and partnering with SinnovaTek’s proprietary aseptic technology is a great opportunity to leverage this trend using less packaging in a growing food technology platform,” says Sal Pellingra, ProAmpac vice president global package design, applications and business development. 

“This is an example of a collaboration utilizing our broad capabilities to help partners and brands get new products to market with less complexity and increased speed.”

The aseptic spouted pouches are suitable for baby food, fruit smoothies, coffee and spreads.Shelf-stable pack
The aseptic packaging technology provides shelf-stable liquid food in a convenient reclosable flexible spouted pouch. With aseptic packaging, a sterile product is filled into a sterile package within a sterile environment creating a shelf-stable food package without the need for refrigeration. 

Using ProAmpac’s short-run digitally printed pouches removes engraving costs and multiple products can be grouped during the printing process to maximize efficiency. 

This capability, combined with short-run pouching at ProAmpac’s Rochester, NY ISO 13485-certified site, enables new products to get to market without the expense of larger production runs and with the shelf appeal of flexographic printed packaging rather than applied labels. 

“When launching new products, it’s not uncommon to have a label update or even multiple versions of a label,” explains Michael Druga, SinnovaTek’s chief executive officer. “We’re happy to offer a low-commitment and low-risk way to test new products while showcasing high-quality graphics in this new spouted flexible pouch format.”

Available pouch sizes include 3.2 oz (90 g), 4 oz (113 g) or 8 oz (227 g). 

Pouches in the news
In another development, SIG unveiled a new range of F&B solutions at the Gulfood Manufacturing 2022 trade show in Dubai, UAE, marking the products’ debut into the Middle East and African markets. 

The updated line includes two aseptic carton variations, bag-in-box and spouted pouch solutions for retail, institutional and industrial applications. 

Meanwhile, TotalEnergies, Windmöller & Hölscher and Mitsubishi Chemical Group completed a successful proof of concept for a fully recyclable high-barrier stand-up pouch for food-grade applications. 

The stand-up pouch comprises 98% PE and less than 2% ethylene vinyl alcohol, which is required for barrier properties. The recyclable high-barrier packaging was developed to replace multimaterial structures (such as metalized BOPP/PE or metalized BOPET/PE) in line with brand owners’ commitments to 100% recyclable packaging by 2025. 

Edited by Natalie Schwertheim