Leak detector turns to packaging analysis

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Apr 11, 2005

The latest version the Leakmaster micro-leak detection system from Witt Gas Techniques is designed for finding leaks in individual flexible and rigid food and pharmaceutical packaging.

The latest version the Leakmaster micro-leak detection system from Witt Gas Techniques is designed for finding leaks in individual flexible and rigid food and pharmaceutical packaging.

The system is based on CO2 detection technology, and is claimed to produce considerable savings over using water as a leak tester.

In the case of a packaging company with one packaging line; immersing sample packaging in water to test 15 packs every hour, the savings to that company by using Leakmaster could amount to more than GBP 8000 per annum.

Against the purchase cost of the largest chamber size Leakmaster, this would represent just over a 2 month payback.

The savings are achieved by taking into consideration the following: time to conduct tests, rework labour costs, no product or packaging destruction, equipment maintenance costs.

These cost savings are based on a single packaging line: the higher the number of packaging lines, the higher the saving.

Leakmaster is portable and only takes a couple of seconds to detect a leak and the testing is nondestructive with the packet being returned to the production line.

Using operator friendly data entry by means of a keypad, Leakmaster uses ceramic sensors for CO2 detection to find out if the protective atmosphere used in the packaging is escaping.

As well as being nondestructive, the use of helium, an expensive tracer gas, is not necessary.

No skills are needed to operate Leakmaster and depending on the set test parameters, it is possible to determine micro leaks.

The durable stainless steel housing with a plexiglass lid has been especially designed for use in high production environments.

The measurement chamber is available in a number of different sizes from 85 x 160 x 365 up to 225 x 775 x 665mm to meet the individual requirements of packaging companies.

With the lid closed, the Leakmaster creates a vacuum and the test results are displayed on a monitor after the defined measurement time has elapsed.

Being small in size and portable, Leakmaster can be set up easily and quickly anywhere.

The operator defines the relevant product parameters, including leak level, measurement time and vacuum level using the keypad.

Test time can then be further reduced with the optional barcode scanner.

Administration and analysis of data is very simple through integration with quality management systems used in pharmaceutical and food production.

Leakmaster can be interfaced to a PC or PDA via Ethernet or wireless LAN, eliminating the need for manual data recording.

Carl Long, General Manager at Witt Gas, said: "We have calculated these cost saving over a wide scenario and are able to give any packaging company an accurate calculation for their own situation".

"We have calculated that savings are made over a wide area including cost of product procurement, labour and time saving, plus the fact that with using Leakmaster, the packaging is not damaged in the testing process".