A global fish processor has selected the Promens seafood packaging system for the 3kg bulk 'counter' fish packs produced at its UK site.

The company has reduced labour and achieved a 33% increase in output by using Promens' twin-headed, modified atmosphere, automatic bulk tray sealer. This replaces two single-headed existing lines.

Jeremy Wilson, Promens sales director, says: "Promens' system is fully established with UK and Continental fish processors and its benefits were clear to the customer. However, we needed to trial the system to ensure that it met the customer's quality and operational requirements as well as those of the market-leading retailer it supplied."

Promens loaned the processor a trial machine to pack a full day's production for the retailer. Wilson says the multi-store trial worked well: "We had really positive comments from the people that know most about the products the counter staff at the retailer. Great news for us."

Promens engineers installed the equipment and gave advice on packing fish 'in ice', the traditional route, as well as advice and engineering support with MAP, (Modified Atmosphere). With the MAP route, ice can be removed from the packaging, and trials have shown that product quality and shelf life is improved.

Another benefit to the customer is vastly reduced storage and reduced fire risk now that they have moved away from expaned polystyrene containers. The Promens Fish Packaging System takes only 10% of the space of conventional expanded polystyrene packaging and in addition to this, Promens believe it to be the strongest bulk fish pack on the market.

Wilson cites a 50% reduction in packaging waste for the end-user as a further benefit of the trays.

"Promens' logistics trays are lightweight but incredibly strong," he explains. "They can be used with ice or modified atmosphere and go straight to pallet, offering pre-pack storage, production, logistics and waste reduction benefits.

"This pre-formed bulk tray can be used for any protein not just seafood. The system is available to all sizes of user, with a range of trays and sealing machines suited to small or large processors."

On a daily basis, Promens are working with fish processors across the world, delivering similar packaging systems and extended shelf life solutions to Primary and Seconday Fish processing.