Sealed Air/Cryovac Packaging Technology Expertise on Display at 2003 Worldwide Food Expo

DUNCAN, S.C. (Oct. 29, 2003) - Cryovac Food Packaging Division of Sealed Air Corporation will showcase a variety of meat case and deli retail packaging offerings at the 2003 Worldwide Food Expo in Chicago from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, 2003. Visitors to booth N-1220 at McCormick Place will experience the benefits afforded by innovative Cryovac® packaging solutions that deliver value from "Fab to Fork."

Cryovac® Simple Steps™ heat-and-serve packaging is among the convenience packaging solutions being highlighted at this year’s show. The Simple Steps™ cook-in technology enables processors to fully cook and distribute center-of-the-plate entrées in the same package. For consumers, the Simple Steps™ package includes features such as "stay-cool" side handles and easy-open tabs to make preparation simple and prevent spills and burns. Because the package self-vents as it reheats, there is no need to puncture ventilation holes before placing it in a microwave. Simple Steps™ packages can go virtually straight from the microwave to the dinner table.

Cryovac® case-ready solutions can be tailored to satisfy any distribution need with numerous high and low oxygen formats. This comprehensive portfolio offers everything from oxygen barrier films, lidstock, vacuum skin packaging and barrier bags to barrier foam, solid barrier trays and absorbent pads, all arriving ready to go from carton to case.

Cryovac® In-the-Bag merchandising delivers greater variety and better protection for value-added products. Ribs, roasts, family packs/features and value-added cuts can arrive at the retail case in durable Cryovac® Barrier Bags. These tight-fitting packages excel during distribution and deliver superior merchandising performance. The extended shelf life they provide protects against in-store shrink and enables an extensive variety of specialty items to be displayed.

Numerous innovations in Cryovac® Laminates packaging will also be showcased in the booth. E-Seal materials represent a value innovation in sealant technology, providing stronger seals, even through contaminates for all thermoform and form-fill-seal packages. These materials seal at consistently lower temperatures, which can improve packaging throughput and reduce the risk of damaging temperature-sensitive products. The Cryovac® NEW-GEN laminates look and feel like laminates, but are actually fully co-extruded materials. The groundbreaking process creates an end to de-lamination because "total extrusion" eliminates the need for adhesive between layers. Its glossy, surface-printed graphics are due to a revolutionary printing technology used on the non-forming web material. Cryovac® Easy-Open features have become a standard in many rollstock packaging applications. The Universal Easy Open system for non-forming webs seals to all types of sealants, time after time. The Tear Out system for forming webs maintains strong seals, even through contaminates or post-pasteurization heat treatment, and still delivers easy- open performance.

Also on display will be the future of cook-in casing technology - barrier casings formed in-line from rollstock film. The Cryovac® Flat-Sheet Barrier Cook-In system eliminates costly shirring, lowering costs and reducing the frequency of line shutdowns during material reloading. Cryovac® barrier films and Tipper Tie®, the leading name in sizer and clipper technology, have joined forces with the new Tipper Tie® HS3AB automatic heat-sealing machine to form the wave of the future.