October 19, 2022

Our service: From the idea to the shelf

At Elopak, our customers find high-quality packaging solutions from a single source. From sustainable beverage cartons to state-of-the-art filling technology and tailor-made secondary packaging – all elements are perfectly coordinated with each other and with our customers’ products. How do we ensure this? This is where our service and knowledge centre comes into play: the Elopak Technology Centre. This is where we research, test and develop so that innovations are quickly brought to market maturity and our packaging systems ultimately meet the highest demands.

Test Centre

The Test Centre has a wide range of filling machines that we use to test and develop our packaging systems. Here is what we do on site:
Field tests of new filling machines and machine upgrades as well as product developments such as new board grades and closures
Integrity tests: Verifying the compatibility of product, filling machine and packaging
Optimising filling processes

Laboratories

In our laboratories, we can perform microbiological, chemical, material and sensory investigations of food, packaging, filling machines and environmental samples. This provides the ideal basis for bringing product innovations to market maturity as well as for comprehensive and well-founded consultation. This allows us to recommend the best packaging option to our customers and give a realistic forecast of the stability, shelf life and storability of their products.

Sensory laboratory

All sensory tests take place under strictly controlled conditions and are designed according to ISO guidelines.
Qualification of packaging materials through a strict series of sensory testing
Assessment of new board or closure categories, modified coatings, new polymers and new inks
Performance of regular quality checks
Troubleshooting
“Sometimes our work is like that of a detective. We have to consider a wide variety of potential factors and test the interaction between them. That’s how we identify the causes of sensory problems.”
Liv Bente Strandos, Manager Sensory Services at Elopak

Food and material laboratory

Here we carry out tests on various types of packaging and filling materials to ensure safe products of the highest quality.
Portfolio of around 160 analytical methods
Microbiological investigation of food, packages and filling machines to identify microorganisms, detect contamination sources, control hygiene of food containers, conduct microbial challenge testing
Food chemical evaluations, e.g. general migration analyses, shelf-life studies for juice and milk, filling suitability of food products, product packaging interaction
Packaging material analysis and performance testing: Oxygen barrier properties, identification of foreign bodies, determination of material properties, evaluation of polymers
“We ensure that a wide variety of products arrive at the customer's door safely packaged, with maximum freshness and a long shelf life. As product diversity increases, and with it the challenges for packaging systems, our role becomes increasingly important.”
Erlend Sveva, Director System Performance at Elopak

Packaging laboratory

We also support our customers in making the right decision in terms of packaging design, secondary packaging or palletizing scheme. We offer these services, among others:
Support in the visualisation of designs and concept ideas
Production of generic or customised mock-ups: from 3D pack shots to physical samples
Creating shelf animations
Development, sample production and testing of secondary packaging: From the classic tray to multi-packs and secondary placement
Simulation of a transport distance for filled packaging
Elopak – Website
Elotalk - Article Sensor Lab (PDF)
Elotalk - Article food and material laboratory (PDF)
Molokia, Ukraine
Product:
Pure-Pak® Sense

Ukrainian manufacturer Ternopil Dairy has updated the designs of its fairytale milk for the Molokia brand with new characters. Wolf, bear, fox, hedgehog, stork and rabbit are now the stars of the packaging. There is also a lactose-free milk. The products are recommended by the Association of Paediatricians of Ukraine.

Robinsons, UK
Product:
Pure-Pak® Classic

“Less plastic – more serves” – Britvic launched super strength concentrated squash for the Robinsons brand using the 500ml Pure-Pak Classic carton. The result. 60 serves per 500ml and 85% less plastic per serve.

smol, UK
Product:
D-PAK™

smol’s refill carton range continues to grow. Following dishwashing liquid and fabric softener, stain remover has now also been available in practical cartons since the start of 2024. The original bottle for applying and dispensing the liquids is made from 100% recycled plastic.

LoveMilk, UK
Product:
Pure-Pak® Classic

In response to growing consumer concern about plastic waste, the UK’s largest independent dairy launched cartons with tethered caps for its fresh milk products in the food service sector. This will significantly reduce the amount of plastic used in Freshway’s packaging.