Packaging materials are renowned for their durability, flexibility and the freedom they provide to the designing team as compared to traditional packaging materials. Now is the era of Flexible packaging, and with a growing market in various sectors, this mode of packaging has become the foremost choice for many. However, growing demand in production comes with rising competition and to be ahead of the line one must take care of every product. Quality control is the major of it.

Factors such as structural properties and chemical composition are something no manufacturer will miss out in testing, but there are a few things that may be checked but have higher chances of mission out. Vacuum Leaks are one of them.

What are vacuum leaks?

Vacuum leaks are small micro-sized holes, seal gaps or maybe a torn section in a packaging material that are often missed out by the production line officers. They are so small and micro in size that they are not visible by naked eyes. Now one may ask if they are so small then what potential issues they can cause, one may leave them as they are. How big damage can they bring? Well, it doesn't matter how small the size be, vacuum gaps or leaks can result in huge production line loss.

What potential problem can arise from vacuum leaks?

Vacuum leaks are small or big, size doesn't matter but if they remain in any type of packaging material can bring huge damage to the product packaging. Small holes or gaps or poor seal issues can let the air enter inside the package and lead to product contamination. In some cases, these micro-sized leaks may also let the product content flow outside the packaging material (In case of liquid or gas packed inside). Such scenarios are not good for any product. They can result in product damage, packaging material rejection, production loss and a negative impact on brand reputation.

How can one detect micro-sized leaks?

Physical examination is completely out of the question as the size of vacuum leaks can vary from micron size to centimetres. The only detection system that works out in such cases is the Vacuum leak detection test. In the testing methods, the sample packaging material with a possible vacuum leak in it is immersed in a liquid and the chamber must be closed. Slowly and gradually the air pressure inside is increased, resulting in pressurizing the air inside the package moving out through the faulty vacuum leaks. When the air is released in a liquid they are easily visible in the form of bubbles and hence, are recorded in the system. This way one can easily evaluate the vacuum leak quality of packaging material.

Vacuum leak tester - one in all leak detection system

A vacuum leak tester is a high-end leak detection system that is designed as per international leak testing standards. It allows the user to perform a distinct range of leak testing on a wide variety of packaging materials that include - flexible packaging, PET bottles, preforms, etc. The equipment comes with features like highly sensitive microprocessor-based system controls that can easily detect the changes in air pressure inside and calculate the level of the leak in the sample. It comes with a printer facility and also has a soft-touch keypad for maximum user comfort. The Vacuum leak tester is the ideal testing system that can ensure that any size of leak will never be missed out and the product released will assure the best quality to the client with zero chances of any vacuum leaks.