Food, pharma, and sterile packaging have different needs, but they share a common principle: materials used in production must not only be high-performing, they must be detectable. In the most sensitive applications, where product safety and process compliance are decisive, the ability to detect any plastic fragments can represent a significant advantage in risk reduction strategy.
On one hand, the detectable range was created to respond to accidental contamination in food and industrial environments; on the other, LATI has also been working for some time on material families for medical applications and sterile packaging, with a focus on behavior after sterilization.
What these sectors have in common
In all three contexts, the material must help ensure:
- process control
- stability over time
- consistency with application requirements
- safety in case of accidental breakage
- reliability after washing, sanitization, or sterilization
This does not mean that every detectable material is automatically suitable for every application. It does mean, however, that in projects where traceability and control are fundamental, detectability can fully rank among the selection criteria for the compound.
Where detectability can become an advantage
In food processing, the benefit is clear: making fragments detectable that would otherwise be difficult to identify.
In pharma and sterile packaging, the reasoning expands. Here, other factors also come into play:
- controlled environments
- delicate packaging processes
- compatibility with sterilization
- the need to maintain stable dimensional and mechanical performance
Many traditional polymers do not withstand temperature, humidity, and sterilization cycles well. It is interesting to note the collaboration between LATI and Gammarad Italia to evaluate the behavior of materials after gamma irradiation.
Sterilization: the true design differentiator
When entering the field of sterile or medical packaging, sterilization changes the rules of the game. It is not enough for the material to be detectable or mechanically robust: it must also maintain stability after the planned process.
Gamma irradiation allows for the sterilization of the finished product even in sealed packaging and, in tests conducted by LATI, the mechanical, thermal, aesthetic, and dimensional stability of the compounds were evaluated after exposure to different dose levels.
In applications where control, traceability, and process stability are required, the selection of the compound must be validated based on geometry, environment, regulations, and sterilization method.
The right selection logic
For food, pharma, or sterile packaging projects, material selection should start with these questions:
- which detection system is available?
- what is the real risk of breakage?
- is the component close to the product?
- must the part withstand washing or sterilization?
- which properties cannot be sacrificed?
Only then can it be determined whether a magnetically detectable, radiopaque, or dual-detectability grade is required.
Conclusion
In the transition from food to pharma and sterile packaging, the topic of detectable materials does not lose relevance: it changes depth. It becomes part of a broader evaluation that integrates performance, safety, process, and compliance. And it is precisely here that a serious formulation and application approach can make the difference.
Are you developing a component for food, pharma, or sterile packaging and want to understand if detectability can be a concrete advantage in your project? Consult with LATI regarding your application requirements.
Accessibility Statement