General Applications for Special Materials, is claiming it will change the food and drink packaging industry after developing an insulating material.
This new material, which uses the known properties of a vacuum in a packaging film that will keep frozen, cold or chilled goods colder for longer than more conventional packaging materials.
The material, known as nanoskin, is a micron-thickness film that provides a thermal protection layer by using small cells containing a vacuum.
Nanoskin would be applied to packaging during the production process, either on the inside or outside of a container, and is designed to be flexible enough to be formed and shaped without losing its vacuum properties.
By providing higher levels of insulation it is believed that less material can be
used in many varied forms of food and beverage packages and since the base material is food safe it should be able to be used in contact with the contents of a container.
As it has thermal insulation properties, General Applications’ nanoskin material can also be used to keep warm products at a constant temperature.
Mark Forrest, General Application’s Chief Executive: “There’s a wide variety of applications where our nanoskin material can be used in the food and drink packaging industry both as a primary and secondary layer.
“It will keep ice cream and beverages colder for longer, and it should be possible to extend the shelf-life of food products by maintaining desired temperatures for a longer period.
“It can also be made to act as a gas and light barrier as well as being printable for brand development.”
For the ordinary consumer, it means that the frozen or chilled groceries should stay supermarket fresh on the journey home and with less bulk of material to dispose of.
“It’s not an exaggeration, but nanoskin could revolutionise the food and drink industry,” said Forrest.
Strong interest is being shown in General Applications’ technology from drinks companies, and the company is keen to establish commercial partnerships with food companies, food retailers and food packagers from the UK and overseas.
General Applications is developing nanoskin and its associated technology, nanospheres, in partnership with a small number of research organisations and industrial companies; these include the UK National Physical Laboratory, PERA, PA Consulting Group and Dupont Teijin Films.
Using similar vacuum technology, nanospheres is focused toward the industrial manufacturing sector, such as building materials, where nanoskin can also be used.
For further information , visit www.generalapplications.com
