US-based packaging solutions provider Cryopak has developed high-density polyethylene (HDPE) gel packs in re-useable plastic trays.
Cryopak Technical Services Manager Anthony Alleva said the intiative serves two purposes; it reduces the amount of corrugate to basically zero, which fits in nicely with the current "Green" initiatives the industry is seeing. The hard packs freeze much faster which saves them pallet positions in their freezer, and energy costs.
The packaging firm said the project, which started at Cryopak’s Montreal, Canada location, can be offered at other locations in the United States, Canada and Europe.
The new product is based on the company’s Cryo-Gel re-usable gel pack, which lasts longer than ice and the refrigerant gel is designed to protect product from freezing or over-heating.
The product is available in the standard durable laminated plastic pouch or Cryo-Gel 2 "no-sweat" paper material to protect against condensation from touching the product. The gel packs are food grade conforming to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation 176.170, non-toxic, non hazardous and biodegradable.
The gel packs are used in Cryopak’s insulated shipping systems for temperature sensitive payloads. The phase/freeze point for this product is 0 degrees celsius.