Südpack unveils high-barrier films for fish and seafood

Südpack has launched two packaging formats for sensitive foods, like fish and seafood. The SkinPro and Multifol Extreme use skin, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), and vacuum packaging technologies to reliably and safely store foods such as salmon fillets, tuna chunks, smoked trout, shelled crayfish, mussels, and shrimp skewers. 

The company says: “Whatever the format, it must deliver a secure seal even if the seal area is contaminated, resist punctures from heavy or sharp-edged products, and help extend shelf life with an integrated barrier function — ideally while using as little material as possible.” 

Südpack adds that packaging fish and seafood safely and cost-effectively means balancing product protection, extended shelf life, attractive design, and efficient processability. 

Keeping fish fresh 

Südpack’s SkinPro is designed specifically for shrimp skewers, salmon fillets, and whole fish. 

The vacuum skin packaging solution features matching top and bottom webs that seal together, helping extend the food’s shelf life by removing oxygen. 

According to Südpack, the top web wraps around the product like a skin, protecting foods with sharp or pointed edges. The bottom web aims to prevent juicing and allow flat, upright, or hanging presentation at the point of sale.

“The wrinkle-free top web, with enhanced transparency and gloss, delivers maximum product visibility, a fresher appearance, and a premium look and feel. The clean, smooth, and easy opening behavior further reinforces the positive consumer experience,” says the company.

Südpack offers bottom webs in PE, PP, and amorphous PET, designed to fit SkinPro’s top webs and engineered to ensure reliable sealing. The solution is recyclable, and can run efficiently and reliably on skin packaging machines, according to the company.

Extreme packaging applications

Multifol Extreme is a flexible film that offers high puncture resistance. It is suitable for MAP or vacuum packaging of fatty, protein-rich, or sharp-edged products such as fresh salmon fillets, white fish, or herring portions, as well as frozen goods.

Moreover, Südpack explains that the solution is 30% lighter than conventional polyamide or PE structures and has a thickness of 150 µm, replacing a conventional 200 µm-thick thermoforming film. 

Südpack adds: “This packaging concept also shines during the packaging process itself — with thermoforming properties that support deep draws, as well as good processability on standard thermoforming packaging machines.” 

Recently, Südpack Medica introduced MedHub, a service for consumers to order high-quality, pre-made medical pouches in standard sizes and defined batch quantities.