Gas flushing is a valuable packaging technology—but when is it appropriate?
The basic principle is straightforward. Before a bag is sealed, atmospheric air inside the package is displaced with a controlled gas, commonly nitrogen. By reducing the amount of oxygen remaining in the package, gas flushing can help protect products that are sensitive to oxidation and preserve product quality (taste & aroma) during storage and distribution.
For many application, that can translate into better freshness, improved shelf life, and greater protection of product characteristics.
So, when does it make sense?
Products particularly well suited to gas-flush packaging include coffee, snacks, pet treats, nuts, certain dry foods, powdered ingredients, and other oxygen-sensitive products. QuantumPak’s Q800CG, for example, is specifically designed for gas flushing and sealing pillow-top or gusseted bags of products such as coffee, snacks and pet treats.
But gas flushing shouldn’t simply be added because it sounds like an upgrade.
If a product is not particularly sensitive to oxygen, has a naturally short distribution cycle, or its packaging and expected shelf life don’t justify modified-atmosphere packaging, conventional sealing may be perfectly adequate. The decision should therefore start with the product and packaging requirements, not the equipment.
There is also an important distinction between gas flushing and vacuum packaging.
Gas flushing displaces nearly all the atmosphere inside the bag. Vacuum removes some of the air from the package. Some applications benefit from one process; others benefit from combining both.
That’s where equipment selection becomes important.
The QuantumPak Q800CG combines gas/nitrogen flushing with industrial bag sealing and a synchronized product conveyor. For applications requiring additional atmosphere control, the Q800CGV adds vacuum capability, allowing the package to be vacuumed and gas flushed before sealing. Both systems are designed for industrial production and can accommodate a variety of bag materials and styles.
And the system can be configured around the application. Options include printing, custom seal widths, extra tall frames, recipe controls, data acquisition, NEMA 4X wash down construction and other specialized configurations.
The real question isn’t “Do I need gas flush?”
It’s: What does my product need from its package?
Tell us what you’re packaging, your bag material, desired shelf life and production requirements. QuantumPak can help determine whether conventional sealing, gas flush, vacuum—or a combination—is the right solution.
