Moisture control in the filling, packaging and labelling industry

In virtually all industries, whatever the process, finishing will involve some form of either filling, packaging, labelling or a sequence of all three. In each of these stages, moisture control can play an important role in ensuring the quality of the process and thereby protecting the finished product that is being delivered by the industry.

Filling and automatic packaging systems:

Products packaged in volumetric filling machines distribute the product from a hopper, through a hole and into containers. This equipment may suffer from sticky product or the formation of ice in the mechanism, which can prevent operation or result in uneven feeding of the containers.

With the use of Fisair desiccant dehumidifiers, filling equipment can be prevented from sticking or forming ice.

Blister packs and food packaging machines are prone to unplanned shutdowns when exposed to wet environmental conditions. High humidity reduces the speed of packaging and packaging machinery, which are routinely worked with close tolerances.

High humidity also affects the storage and shelf life of most packaged products. Moisture control can maintain the integrity of packaging and products, essential for quality packaging and extending product life.

Labelling:

Paper-based labels are hygroscopic and can be adversely affected when stored at a humidity of less than 50-55% RH. It is also very important to avoid electrostatic electricity problems if they are made from metal compounds.

In addition to this, many adhesives are sensitive to environmental moisture levels, losing their own moisture when exposed to a dry environment. This can cause labels to suffer from a lack of adhesion. Commonly, the glue is in balance with the paper and by maintaining a 50-55% RH the labelling area is kept in optimal condition.

Packaging material:

Paper based packaging and cardboard boxes are also hygroscopic materials that can suffer in a dry environment. The main problem encountered is the appearance of cracks on the outer surfaces of paper and thicker cartons, due to a loss of flexibility with the drying of materials. This becomes more obvious in printed work, where the white substrate is revealed, which inevitably leads to the rejection of an entire batch. Once again, correct storage which includes maintaining an environment of 50-55% RH usually solves this problem.

Examples of specific applications of desiccant rotor air dehumidification in the packaging process:

Pharmaceutical Industry:

You will find details in the application section of our website which show how the packaging process of critical products such as antibiotics and effervescent products have been specific fields of study for FISAIR.

Textile industry:

Clothing is usually made of organic materials such as wool or cotton. If packaged in an atmosphere with high humidity, and transported to distant destinations with cold climates, items can arrive with mould and fungi. At the very least, when customers open the packaging, they may experience bad smells. For this purpose, storage and packaging rooms are ideally kept at a low humidity, about 35% RH.

Food industry:

The importance of the presentation and shelf life of any product in supermarkets, means that special care must be taken in the packaging processes of this industry. Desiccant dehumidifier technology is frequently focused in the packaging of sandwiches, washed vegetables, instant soups, and biscuits.

Fertilizer industry:

Most commercial fertilizers, especially those that have a high concentration of nutrients, are hygroscopic, meaning they have a high solubility in water. This means that they easily absorb moisture during production, storage and bagging, and can form a saturated solution that leads to caking and lumps. Therefore, desiccant dehumidifiers can be very useful in various parts of the process, but especially in bagging areas.

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