An innovative new extension to the KPeel range of lidding films from leading European packaging specialist KM Packaging Services Ltd is expected to be especially popular with manufacturers and caterers supplying the elderly and healthcare markets, as well as premium supermarket brands.

The new solution, technical name KPeel WF1N, is a very strong, impact resistant lidding film, 29 or 43 microns thick and dual ovenable. Sealing to both CPet and aluminium foil, the new material is suitable for sealing through tray contamination and will make significant in-roads into preventing breakage and seal failure, thus reducing food waste and spoilage.

As well as ensuring a cold peel without sharding, the new film facilitates a stress-free hot peel too – making it particularly suitable for the elderly and infirm, as well as for catering size packs and even family portioned meals. This high quality, premium film is expected to reduce the number of spoilt or damaged products returned by consumers or retailers, thanks to its superior performance, and will help to limit the fines and reputation damage suffered by food manufacturers using inferior packaging.

Many catering companies are still specifying cardboard lids in conjunction with a wrinkle wall foil tray for ready meals. KM’s newest product is significantly more functional and will support the provision of many more varied meals, delivered more efficiently and without the risk of consumer “wrap rage”.

KM Commercial Director, Graham Holding, explained: “This latest innovation is based on a completely new material specification, further extending KM’s already significant range of films for sealing to Cpet and smooth wall aluminium foil trays. Ensuring that we developed a film that could seal through contamination, and be totally clean peelable either direct from the freezer or the oven was a challenge that we were pleased to see through.

“Caterers and providers to the elderly and healthcare sectors manufacture hundreds of different types of meals, each with individual properties and challenges. We’re confident that this latest product development will appeal strongly, not just to food processors who are judged on the performance of their whole provision, but to manufacturers and caterers looking to gain an edge over their competitors by efficiently providing a much broader choice of meals in superior, consumer-friendly packaging.”