Packaging wraps up with HACCP

At first glance, you may question why a packaging manufacturer pursues HACCP certification most commonly applied to manufacturers of food.

Martin Stone, Director of HACCP Australia, explains, “Primary packaging is designed for long-term food contact and will be used in a food factory without any significant decontamination step for the packaging. The materials therefore should be treated as a virtual ingredient of the food.” Stone adds, “The materials that make up the packaging, inks for example, can migrate into foods and further, any contaminants that enter the product stream at the packaging manufacturer may well end up in the food when that material is used.”

Amec Plastics specialises in injection moulding and is a major supplier to the beverage industry of plastic bottle tops and water bottle covers. The company has developed and built a special ‘Food Room’ enclosure to help ensure the environment in which the moulding occurs is as free of potential contaminants as possible. Further, it operates a practical HACCP program to identify and control all food safety risks to the product and subsequent food materials packed.

Amec Plastics General Manager Hennie Oliver says, “We have responded to our customers’ needs and recognise that the characteristics of our product have a direct impact on the safety of the finished food product and final consumers. Our HACCP program has addressed and formalised the measures we take to ensure the safety of our customers’ finished goods.”

Director of HACCP Australia Clive Withinshaw notes, “When we first started working with Amec you could see they had a high-quality product but some areas of food safety management were not formalised or measured and not all food safety risk management strategies were identified. Now, it is clear that food safety issues are at the top of mind and their minds are extremely effective,” says Withinshaw.

The latest addition to their equipment range is the Wittmann IML (in mould labelling) robot which interacts with their multicavity stack-mould system. Amec Plastics uses the latest injection moulding machines and other available technology to produce a variety of thin wall containers and tubs for the food packaging industry. “The quality produced with this system is unsurpassed and the benefits to the food industry are substantial,” claims Oliver.

Flexpack says they are ‘Big enough to deliver ... small enough to care’, a claim substantiated by just one look at their Brisbane operation and understanding the commitment they have shown to the development, implementation and certification of their HACCP program. Martin Stone says, “This organisation approached their HACCP development with a vigour rarely seen in the food and associated industries and their achievements have been outstanding.”

As the name suggests, the company specialises in flexible packaging. To achieve the flexibility and quality their customers demand, they have invested in the best industry-proven equipment including high-quality 8-colour German flexographic presses, solventless lamination and high-speed slitting. Flexpack’s pouch-making facilities can additionally supply custom shaped, ziplock, tear notches and euro slots all to add prestige and functionality to packaging.

Mercia van den Heever, Business Support and HACCP Coordinator at Flexpack, says “Since implementing HACCP, our facility has been cleaner and our awareness of food safety issues has significantly improved in the facility. Our customers are also more confident in our products. The system also dovetails into other programs we run at the facility and this combines to provide a platform for excellent quality and food safety characteristics in our products ... every time.”

Flexpack supports their product offering through continued investment in the production facility. This investment includes a fully air-conditioned production environment which enhances quality through the control of temperature and humidity and reduces the potential for environmental contamination.

Both Flexpack and Amec Plastics are leaders in their field in regard to quality, food safety and innovation. As Stone confirms, “For packaging solutions in the food industry, these two organisations would definitely be the first doors I would be knocking on. Food safety and quality systems are passionately maintained and flawlessly executed through both facilities.”