Vacuum packaging: longer shelf life with the right vacuum pump
Vacuum packaging: longer shelf life, better protection
Walk past the chilled section of the supermarket and you see the result of vacuum packaging everywhere: meat and fish tightly wrapped in film, pre-packed cheese, ready meals in sealed trays. Behind every packaging machine that does this work, a vacuum pump is running. DOVAC supplies, maintains and replaces these pumps, with food-approved versions for the food industry and a wide range for non-food.
From film to tray: how vacuum packaging works
In vacuum packaging, the air is drawn out of a package before it is closed. By removing air, and with it a large part of the oxygen, from the package, oxidation and the growth of certain microorganisms are slowed. This can extend shelf life and helps preserve product quality. In some packaging processes a protective gas mixture is also used to further support colour, texture and shelf life.
In the machine, the line places the product in film or in a preformed tray, after which the vacuum pump draws out the air and the package is sealed immediately. A common variant is thermoforming: film is heated, drawn into shape and, after filling, closed under vacuum. The largest market is the food industry, but non-food products that need protection against moisture, oxygen or contamination are also vacuum packed.
The pump as the heart of the packaging line
The vacuum pump is the core component of every packaging machine, and choosing the right one matters. Determining factors include:
- The temperature of the product
- The desired vacuum depth: some products only need a light vacuum, others call for a deep vacuum and a lot of suction power
- The cycle time of the machine
- The hygiene requirements: depending on the machine, application and applicable requirements, a food-grade lubricant or a dry vacuum technology may be preferred.
A complicating factor: many machines come from specialist machine builders in Italy, Germany and America, with a factory-fitted pump. For maintenance, parts and replacement, the owner is then in principle dependent on the manufacturer.
Downtime, product loss and outdated technology
If the vacuum pump fails, the entire packaging line can come to a standstill. That means lost production and, with perishable products, possibly product loss as well. Long lead times for parts or a replacement pump make such a failure even more costly. That is why, when replacing a pump, DOVAC does not automatically look at the same type that has been in the machine for years. The technology has developed, and a more modern alternative may better match today's requirements for energy consumption, maintenance and operational reliability.
Our possibilities
Side channel blowers
Side channel blowers move large air volumes, suiting aeration, conveying and porous materials. Oil-free and low-maintenance, from compact single-stage to two-stage models, including ATEX.
Claw vacuum pumps
Claw pumps run dry and without contact, with no wear and no oil in the gas stream. Ideal where product purity matters, with low maintenance for continuous use.
Vacuum pumps
Every process places its own demands on the vacuum, from a deep ultimate vacuum to dry operation. We supply the full spectrum and select the pump that fits best.
Benefits for your business
Which vacuum pump suits your packaging process?
DOVAC supplies vacuum pumps for both food and non-food packaging. Which pump is suitable depends on the desired vacuum depth, cycle time, product temperature, hygiene requirements and number of operating hours. The range includes, among others:
- Oil-lubricated vacuum pumps: widely applicable in packaging machines and suitable for processes that call for a stable, deep vacuum. Versions with food-approved oil are available for the food industry.
- Dry vacuum pumps: for applications in which oil-free operation, a clean process or a lower risk of product contamination is important.
- Claw pumps: for robust packaging processes in which continuity, efficiency and limited maintenance weigh heavily.
- Replacement vacuum pumps: for existing packaging machines, also when the original factory pump is no longer available, efficient or practical to maintain.
The pumps are available in various capacities and pressure ranges. That is why DOVAC does not select solely on the current type number, but calculates, starting from the machine and the application, which pump suits the application well technically as well as in terms of energy consumption, maintenance and total cost of use.
What you get out of it
A well-selected vacuum pump contributes to a constant cycle time, reliable seals and stable packaging quality. With maintenance, parts and technical support close at hand, downtime can also be limited as much as possible. And when a pump is due for replacement, DOVAC looks beyond one-for-one replacement: a different vacuum technology may by now be more efficient, easier to maintain or more practical.
Why DOVAC
With packaging machines, DOVAC looks beyond the brand and type number on the existing pump. We first want to know what the machine does, which product is being packed, what cycle time is needed and which process and hygiene requirements the installation has to meet.
Based on that application, we select a suitable vacuum solution. You benefit from extensive practical experience with packaging machines, a broad range of vacuum pumps and parts, fast delivery from stock and support with maintenance and replacement.
Request advice or a quotation
Are you looking for a vacuum pump for a new packaging machine, does an existing pump need to be replaced, or do you want to know whether your current installation can run more efficiently? Contact DOVAC. We look at the machine, the product and the process and, on that basis, advise a suitable vacuum solution.
Why choose DOVAC?
Short lines and quick decisions
At DOVAC you speak directly with the technology experts, no intermediate layer: fast answers, one point of contact.
Involved early in new machines
DOVAC is involved early; with OEMs, testing runs for months before delivery follows.
Demonstrated first, delivered second
DOVAC demonstrates and tests on site to prove the right solution in advance.
For existing installations too
For existing installations, DOVAC supplies maintenance and alternatives, starting from the application.
