Pouch Qualification from Form/Fill/Seal Machine (Short Term Project - STP Number 23).

Abstract : Horizontal Form/Fill/Seal machines (HFFS) are used by several companies to produce shelf stable food products in pouches. This equipment is especially suited to packaging large items such as ham slice or chicken breast. Such products have been purchased to meet limited requirements, but have not been officially approved for routine purchasing, nor are the companies using that equipment considered part of the planned industrial base. The objective of this Project was to produce sufficient quantities of MRE pouches to be tested by Natick RD&EC using new formable foil laminates and the HITS at the aAMrD Demonstration Site. The scope of this project included packaging film development and testing, equipment acquisition and modification, development of processing conditions, ingredient purchases, production of MRE pouch test articles and support to industry. The test articles submitted to Natick RD&EC were found favorably compared to data collected for MREs produced by the traditional manufacturing method. Steps have been undertaken by the military to modify MTh-PA7O23 allowing HITS MRE production and to expand the manufacturing base through acquisition of HITS equipment.