Swedish Company Adopts DuPont Delrin Acetal Grade For Food Closures

‘Metal Detectable’ Attribute Helps Keep Food Safe

Düsseldorf (PRWEB) Swedish company WeLoc - Weland M. AB taps DuPont™ Delrin® acetal resin for use in a new range of food-industry bag closures for its suitability for ‘snap-closure’ action, durability at -50°C and this particular grade's ability to be seen by metal detectors.

These features, combined with the excellent creep resistance, strength, stiffness, toughness, low wear and low friction, offer WeLoc and other food industry suppliers an engineering polymer capable of replacing metal components in a huge array of applications.

Metal or X-ray detection is required in the food industry to protect against foreign material cross contaminating food. This is one of two new food-compliant Delrin® resins developed specifically for food processing equipment components; material handling equipment, such as conveyor chains and hoppers; food-manipulation tools, such as cutters, shovels, scrapers; and forms and molds. Particles as small as 3mm, the size of 3 sugar grains, can typically be detected using standard inspection systems. This helps ensure contaminated food doesn’t reach the consumer.

"We tested other materials for this application but chose Delrin® as it fulfilled a number of our major requirements – use down to -50°C, fully metal detectable and FDA/EU (GMP) compliant,” said Arne Henningsson, division manager at WeLoc. “The material also maintains its properties well, has a good resistance against moisture and is pre-colored in the right shade of blue for the food industry."

The WeLoc array of products originally developed in 1983 has grown to include more than 50 variants in multiple sizes, for the sealing and re-closing of flexible packages across a great many industries and in the home as well. They are sold all over the world, under the names WeLoc, CLIP-it and Klippit.

"We strive to produce and supply high-quality products, putting high demands on our partners for development, testing and documentation,” said Henningsson. “DuPont has been a main supplier of the materials for our products since we started almost 30 years ago and we still view them as an important and beneficial partner today and for the future.”

Looking at the wider food processing industry, Delrin® offers many potential savings, for example in conveyors, including cost and maintenance savings based on improved design and functional integration; reduced energy consumption due to lighter components; and longer replacement intervals based on excellent wear/friction properties.

Delrin® typically does not require additional lubrication, resulting in silent and durable mechanisms, and offers good, clean aesthetics, leading to a cleaner and friendlier working environment. It also is highly resistant to cleaning agents and offers very good behavior under thermal shock. It also promotes ergonomic improvements thanks to lighter equipment and quieter systems due to lower noise emissions compared to metal equivalents.

"DuPont was involved from the very start of the project and supplied very good support," Henningsson concludes, "which is not a surprise to us as we already have a good collaborative relationship spanning nearly 30 years. Together with DuPont we are looking forward to develop new materials for our existing assortment and for future products."

WeLoc also has evolved the design of the bag closure by incorporating other value-added features, including grippers for heavy-duty applications, scoops and spoon for the bag contents (animal feed, coffee, flour, etc.) and indented jaws for holding cables.

WeLoc® has 30 years of experience in design and manufacturing of plastic sealers for flexible packaging. The first model was originally developed to seal liquid tight on a special plastic bag in a medical test device. Today it has more than 50 models to seal packaging from small thin plastic bags to big sacks and FIBC.

DuPont Performance Polymers is committed to working with customers throughout the world to develop new products, components and systems that help reduce dependence on fossil fuels and protect people and the environment. With more than 40 manufacturing, development and research centers throughout the world, DuPont Performance Polymers uses the industry’s broadest portfolio of plastics, elastomers, renewably sourced polymers, filaments and high-performance parts and shapes to deliver cost-effective solutions to customers in aerospace, automotive, consumer, electrical, electronic, industrial, sporting goods and other diversified industries.

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit http://www.dupont.com.