Technical Absorbents Ltd (TAL) has announced that it will be exhibiting at PackPlus 2009 in India next month. The total packaging, processing and supply chain event will take place at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi between 8-11July and is expected to be double the size of the 2008 show.

India’s fastest evolving packaging exhibition is the culmination of ten niche shows which focus on packaging, processing, converting and the supply chain. Packaging systems and technologies for a whole host of markets will be represented, including food, personal care, retail and pharmaceuticals and is a great platform for TAL to promote its Super Absorbent Fibre (SAF) technology to the country’s evolving food industry.

TAL is owned by Bluestar Fibres Ltd, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China National BlueStar (Group) Co., Ltd – which in-turn is wholly-owned by ChemChina. One of the main applications for its super absorbent technology is SAF-based nonwoven food pads. As the company already occupies more than 50 per cent of the EU super absorbent market in the pre-packaged food sector, it is now focusing on developing its innovative technology in Asia.

“Fresh food, including meat, fish, poultry, fruits and dairy products are often scrutinized by North American and European consumers,” explains TAL Business Development Manager Dave Hill. “This scenario is commonplace in the western world where demand is high for foods of the highest quality.

“With pre-packaged foods becoming extremely popular, one of the most important considerations for the food manufacturer is how best to preserve the original quality of the product to achieve an optimum shelf-life. Effectively managing free exudates with a super absorbent food pad is one solution.”

In Asian markets there is limited use of such food packaging materials, principally because of the cultural differences in how food, particularly meat, is sold to the consumer. However, this situation is changing through a combination of increasing legislative requirements on food safety, together with the desirability of pre-packaged foods.

“Retail formats are going through many changes,” continues Dave Hill. “Modern retailing in the form of westernized supermarkets and hypermarkets will have a huge impact on the sale of pre-packaged foods and the future market demand for absorbent food packaging materials.

“We already have a presence in India through our agents – Business Co-ordination House (BCH) – which is a vital resource to TAL. The team has excellent links with both the global and Indian technical textile industries and has already been successful in introducing TAL to various companies, entrepreneurs, students, academicians and other industry stakeholders. PackPlus will now allow TAL to start creating an understanding of the benefits of super absorbents to the county’s food industry and allow it to meet with companies throughout the supply chain under one roof.”