A vacuum packaging system performs the technique of removing air from a pack prior to sealing.
Based on the provided information, vacuum packaging refers to a specific method used in packaging products, primarily to aid preservation. This technique focuses on creating a vacuum within the package.
Key Aspects of Vacuum Packaging
- Process: The core action is the removal of air from the package before it is sealed shut.
- Principal Purpose: The main goal is to eliminate oxygen. Removing oxygen significantly helps in preservation by inhibiting the growth of aerobic bacteria and reducing oxidative degradation.
- Mechanism: The process involves pulling the packaging material into intimate contact with the product itself. This ensures that as much air (and thus oxygen) as possible is removed from the space surrounding the product.
- Historical Context: This method is a long-standing preservation technique and actually predates the use of introducing other gases (like nitrogen or carbon dioxide) into packaging for preservation purposes.
In essence, a vacuum packaging system is the equipment or process that executes this technique of air removal and sealing, primarily for removing oxygen to extend product life or maintain quality.