Flexis™ Steam Valve System Protects Packaged Foods

Manufacturers and packagers of home-heated foods can now provide hermetically sealed protection against contaminants and more accurately regulate the in-home cooking process with a unique new steam valve system from Avery Dennison. The Flexis™ steam valve system uses a proprietary design that provides a hermetic seal when applied over a pre-cut hole in flexible packaging or lidding film. During the cooking process, the valve opens at a predetermined temperature and allows steam to escape by exposing the structure’s slitted or perforated baffle layer. The Flexis™ steam valve system can be used in both microwave and conventional oven applications.

Pre-perforated holes or laser-score slits in the package’s film leave the package open to possible contaminants because there is no hermetic seal. But the Flexis™ steam valve system eliminates exposure to these contaminants because the valve stays completely sealed until cooking.

The new Flexis™ steam valve system empowers food manufacturers to specify how much steam leaves a package during the cooking process, a capability that contributes to meals being properly cooked. A food manufacturer might need to shed more moisture out of the package for a particular type of food or meal. By working with Avery Dennison, manufacturers can tailor the package to the food product’s cooking requirements.

Additionally, the use of an external valve allows a steam release feature to be added without changing the package design’s basic construction. Producers can continue to run the types of film structures that work best on their equipment.

Flexis™ steam valves from Avery Dennison are completely clear, have excellent contact clarity and can be printed with text, graphics and logos in one color.