SAFETYPACK (DFM.AD005.017)

Thematic area

Physical sciences and technologies of matter

Project area

Structure responsible for the research project

Institute for photonics and nanotechnologies (IFN)

Project manager

LUCA POLETTO
Phone number: 049-9817786
Email: poletto@dei.unipd.it

Abstract

SAFETYPACK aims the realisation of a new contactless non- intrusive laser gas sensors that will provide the
food manufacturing industry with a real time in line control technology that can perform quality and safety control
of a wide range of sealed food.
In food packaging industry the use of gases other than air in the process of manufacturing and sealing of food
items for distribution to the consumer chain (supermarkets, retail points, etc) has progressively grown. It follows
that the precise measurement and control of the inside atmosphere represent a requirement in the food and
packaging industries. The control will be made in-line after closure or later to monitor the integrity of the seal
and its evolution in time. Inline non intrusive laser gas sensors, contactless based on laser spectroscopy, will be
developed and validated in the project timeframe. It can operate both on (partially) transparent (food trays and
bags, bottles) as well in almost non-transparent containers.

Goals

Safetypack aims to realize two pilot plants operative in the industrial environment. The sensors realized within the Safetypack project will be demonstrated and validated with two real time in line pilot installations regarding bread, tortilla and cheese production.
The Safetypack objectives will provide:
o Non introusive real time in line food packaging inspection
o Fast & High precision accuracy gas sensor
o Sensor available for exploitation in food industry

Start date of activity

01/11/2013

Keywords

Tunable Diode Laser Spectroscopy, modified-atmosphere packaging

Last update: 25/08/2025