Vacuum Skin Packaging (VSP) Overview

VSP provides a combination of shelf-life extension, product protection, and retail presentation that makes it especially valuable for perishable foods.

Reduced Microbial Growth
Removing oxygen from the package creates an environment less favorable to bacteria, mold, mildew, and yeast. When combined with refrigeration, freezing, dehydration, or heat sterilization, VSP can further support product preservation.

Oxidation Prevention
Exposure to oxygen can affect the flavor, color, aroma, and nutritional quality of food. By significantly reducing oxygen exposure, VSP helps maintain important product characteristics throughout its shelf life.

Protection During Shipping & Distribution
The film conforms closely around the product and holds it securely against a rigid tray or board. This helps reduce movement and provides additional protection throughout transportation, storage, retail handling, and display.

Improved Product Presentation
Highly transparent skin film allows consumers to clearly see the product inside the package. VSP also helps minimize the movement of liquids throughout the tray, creating a cleaner and more attractive presentation on the shelf.

Both Vacuum Skin Packaging (VSP) and Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) can help preserve food and extend shelf life, but they accomplish this in different ways.

MAP removes the existing atmosphere surrounding the food and replaces it with a controlled gas mixture containing lower levels of oxygen. This modified atmosphere helps limit oxidation and microbial growth while maintaining an environment appropriate for the packaged product.

MAP is commonly used for:

• Bakery products
• Dairy products
• Produce
• Ready-to-eat meals

VSP removes the ambient air surrounding the product without replacing it with another gas mixture. A flexible barrier film then conforms closely around the product and seals it to the tray or board.

Because VSP tightly secures the product while significantly reducing oxygen exposure, it is particularly well suited for:

• Meat
• Poultry
• Seafood
• Ready-to-eat meals

The right technology depends on the product, desired shelf life, presentation requirements, and production environment.

VSP combines a thin, transparent skin film with a strong tray or backing material. Selecting compatible films and substrates is important because different films adhere differently depending on the material beneath them.

Common VSP materials include:

C-PET
Crystallized Polyethylene Terephthalate trays can withstand freezing, microwave heating, and conventional oven heating, making them well suited for frozen and prepared meals. C-PET trays can also be produced in different colors to support product presentation and branding.

Polypropylene (PP)
PP trays and skin boards perform well in deep-freeze applications where other materials may become brittle or crack. Because PP can also withstand heating, it is frequently used for heat-and-eat foods. Options are available in clear, black, white, and custom-printed designs.

Laminated Paperboard
Laminated paperboard sheets and formed trays provide a versatile alternative to traditional plastic trays. They can be manufactured in different sizes and thicknesses depending on the product and application.

Skin Film
Transparent barrier film conforms directly around the product and adheres to the tray or backing material. Film selection depends on the product, substrate, barrier requirements, and desired finished package.

Vacuum skin packaging systems can range from semi-automatic equipment for lower production volumes to fully automated machines designed for high-volume operations. While configurations vary, most VSP systems follow the same basic sealing process:

1. Load the Product
The product is placed into a VSP-compatible tray or onto a skin board and transported into the machine’s sealing chamber.

2. Remove the Atmosphere
A vacuum removes the ambient air and oxygen surrounding the product.

3. Apply the Skin Film
A flexible barrier film is drawn tightly over and around the product, conforming closely to its shape.

4. Seal the Package
The film is sealed to the tray or backing material, creating a secure package that helps prevent oxygen, contaminants, and liquids from entering or escaping.

The result is a tightly sealed package that protects the product while maintaining excellent visibility and presentation.

Choosing the right VSP machine depends on factors such as production volume, package dimensions, automation requirements, available space, labor requirements, budget, and desired throughput.

Point Five Packaging offers several VSP-capable machines, including:

• P5-4ZA
• P5-A
• P5-RM
• P5-M
• P5-T

Our team can help determine the appropriate equipment, films, trays, and system configuration based on your product and production requirements.

Point Five Packaging provides VSP technology for applications ranging from intermittent, small-scale packaging to high-volume production environments.

By combining VSP-capable equipment with compatible films, trays, and materials, we can develop a complete packaging solution designed around your product, production requirements, shelf-life goals, and desired presentation.