The South Africa-based company said its patented SwiftUp packaging concept, initially targeted at the confectionery segment, is also suitable for products from the meat, frozen and dry foods, fish, cheese and dairy industries. The design has almost limitless applications, said Mondi.
A stand out feature is its ease of opening, requiring low force and no additional cutting equipment, such as scissors. This convenience attribute makes it an attractive option for the elderly or those with special physical needs, said the firm.
The inside/inside seal incorporated into the design is not sensitive to temperature or pressure, Mondi product manager Kim Pihl told FoodProductionDaily.com.
Versatility
Another attribute is its versatility due to the positioning of the fin, which can be placed almost anywhere on the package. This means the design can be implemented on any kind of film or laminate and has no restriction concerning size, format or shape, he added.
The breakthrough has been realised with the positioning of the fin is at the end of the packaging where traditionally it has been in the middle. The end-user simply pulls on the fin to fully open the pouch and an optional reclosable strip enables resealing to ensure the content stays fresh for longer.
This feature also increases the surface area available for printing. It maximises the options for marketing and brand appearance as the fin can be placed at the top end or on the side of the packaging, leaving the all-over print unaffected, said the company.
The packaging requires no new machinery and “can easily be implemented on a wide range of existing packaging lines with a few, reasonable modifications”, added the firm, which is launching the product with Fuji Packaging.
“SwiftUp offers virtually unlimited applications”, said Christian Kolarik company managing director said. “It can be used on any kind of packaging, ranging from Form-Fill-and-Seal (FFS) to flow wrap or pre-made packaging solutions such as pouches.”
The optional re-closing stripe not only enhances convenience but also product shelf life “by taking advantage of the high barrier properties of the original packaging”, he added.