In the food industry, choosing a packaging technology has become a genuine strategic issue. Beyond simply closing a tray, packaging must preserve product quality, extend shelf life, improve on-shelf presentation, and meet the new requirements of retailers and consumers alike.
Among the tray sealing solutions most widely used in the food industry, two technologies play a major role: modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and SKIN. Although both processes rely on a tray sealer that closes a tray with film, their objectives and applications differ.
So how do you choose between MAP packaging and SKIN packaging? What are the advantages of each technology, and which solutions allow manufacturers to adapt to their different production needs?
MAP packaging: a technology designed to preserve product freshness
MAP, short for modified atmosphere packaging, replaces the atmosphere naturally present in a tray with a gas mixture suited to the packaged product.
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Tray loading. The product is placed in its packaging.
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Air extraction. The air naturally present is removed from the tray.
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Protective atmosphere. A gas mixture suited to the product takes its place.
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Sealing. The lidding film permanently closes the tray.
This technology slows certain spoilage processes and improves the shelf life of food products while preserving their visual and taste qualities. MAP is now widely used across many sectors: fresh products, meat, fish, deli products, ready meals, and dairy products.
For manufacturers, the objective is twofold: to offer a product that meets market expectations while optimizing shelf life management. Choosing a MAP food packaging machine must therefore take into account the type of product, production output, the required seal quality, and the equipment’s ability to keep the process fully under control.
SKIN: packaging that showcases the product
SKIN is based on a different principle. During tray sealing, a specific process makes the film fit the exact shape of the product. The product is held in place in its packaging, with a visual effect similar to a second skin.
This technology particularly meets the needs of manufacturers who want to showcase their products with a premium presentation. SKIN packaging offers several advantages:
- excellent product visibility;
- an attractive on-shelf presentation;
- optimal product retention in the tray;
- less air space around the product.
It is especially well suited to products that call for strong visual appeal, particularly in aisles where appearance plays a key role in the purchase decision.
MAP or SKIN: two technologies that meet different objectives
The choice between MAP and SKIN depends first and foremost on the intended application. MAP is generally preferred to optimize shelf life through a suitable protective atmosphere; SKIN is more focused on showcasing the product and on presentation quality, while also bringing shelf life benefits of its own.
No technology is better than the other: the choice depends on the product, the target market, and the manufacturer’s expectations.
Some manufacturers actually need both technologies, depending on their product ranges: the same company may package some items in MAP and use SKIN for other products that call for a different presentation. These changing needs explain why flexible packaging equipment has become an essential criterion.
Why choose a tray sealer that can evolve?
Food markets are changing fast. Manufacturers have to handle more product references, meet specific customer requests, and sometimes launch new products that require new packaging solutions.
In this context, investing in a tray sealer suited only to one specific use can quickly become a limitation. The best-performing equipment is equipment that can keep pace with changes in production: modularity has become a decisive factor when choosing an industrial tray sealer. A machine that can evolve makes it possible to:
- handle several packaging technologies;
- limit equipment changes;
- support the development of new product ranges;
- optimize the industrial investment over the long term.
The O² 2000 range: a solution suited to MAP and SKIN applications
To meet this diversity of needs, the O² 2000 range was designed around a modular approach that allows the machine to be adapted to different packaging applications. It comes in several configurations.
| Configuration | Use | In SKIN |
|---|---|---|
| O² 2000 Standard Base version | Conventional tray sealing and traditional MAP applications, with some SKIN applications | Product protrusion up to 25 mm |
| O² 2000 HSK High Skin | SKIN for taller products, thanks to its preheating system | Product protrusion up to 50 mm |
| O² 2000 FSK Flat Skin | SKIN on a backing card, when the product calls for a different presentation | On a backing card |
This diversity gives manufacturers a tray sealing solution suited to their current needs while retaining the ability to evolve.
Choosing the right packaging technology: a global approach
The choice between MAP and SKIN should not be viewed only from the standpoint of packaging technology. It must also take overall industrial constraints into account: ease of use of the machine, hygiene, maintenance, format changeovers, and future changes in production.
A high-performing packaging machine must support teams day to day and help improve the overall efficiency of the line. This approach now guides the design of tray sealing equipment for the food industries: offering reliable, flexible solutions that can adapt to changes in the market.