Laboratory & Testing
Laboratory & Testing
Advancing Packaging Through Science
Advancing Packaging Through Science
Our Research and Analysis Laboratory
Innovation at the Core
Alvapack’s in-house laboratory is the heart of our innovation and quality control, where new ideas take shape and standards of excellence are defined.
Cutting-Edge Technology
Equipped with advanced instruments and testing systems, it allows us to develop and evaluate new materials, ensuring smarter and more sustainable packaging solutions.
Excellence in Every Batch
Guided by highly specialized technicians, our lab ensures consistent quality and reliability in every production, delivering proven performance over time.
Excellence in Packaging Innovation
Advanced research and testing for sustainable, high-performance solutions.
A Center of Excellence for Innovation
Our laboratory is divided into specialized areas, each dedicated to a specific aspect of research and quality control:
- R&D Area – Focused on developing new materials and innovative solutions, particularly in anti-fog performance and environmental sustainability.
- Physical and Mechanical Testing Area – Equipped for measuring mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation at break, puncture resistance and proper measurement of the thickness.
- Optical Testing Area – Dedicated to evaluating transparency (haze), gloss, and anti-fog properties of materials (ICI test method)
- Chemical Analysis Area – Performs material composition tests and verifies compliance with food safety regulations.
Rigorous Quality Control
Each production batch undergoes strict quality checks to ensure compliance with all specified technical parameters.
Routine Tests:
- Thickness: Measured at multiple points to verify film uniformity.
- Mechanical strength: Tensile and elongation at break tests ensure performance during packaging and handling.
- Optical properties: Transparency and gloss evaluation.
- Anti-fog performance: Verified according to ICI protocol.
- Sealability: Heat-sealing tests guarantee package integrity.
- Coefficient of friction: Measured to ensure proper runnability on packaging lines.
Special Tests:
- Overall and specific migration: Compliance with food contact regulations.
- Shelf-life testing: Simulates storage conditions to predict product durability.
Anti-Fog Testing According to ICI Protocol
Anti-fog performance is essential for fresh-cut packaging, ensuring product visibility even in humid conditions.
Our laboratory performs rigorous testing following the internationally recognized ICI (International Condensation Index by Uniquema) protocol.
Testing Methodology:
- Sample preparation: Films are cut to standardized sizes and conditioned in a controlled environment.
- Samples are placed on a 250 ml brick with 200 ml of distilled water, kept at controlled temperatures and stored at 4°C in a dedicated refrigerator.
- Our standard requires achieving level E of the aforementioned ICI test (the highest grade) within 4 hours and maintaining it for up to 5 days. Compliance with this standard is verified at regular intervals throughout the 5-day period.
Continuous Innovation
Our laboratory is constantly engaged in research and development projects aimed at enhancing product performance and creating innovative solutions.
Current Research Areas:
- Next-generation anti-fog additives: Formulations with improved and longer-lasting performance.
- Sustainable materials: Research on new polymers and circular-economy materials offering equivalent technical properties.
- Selective permeability optimization: Films engineered for specific fresh product requirements.
- Advanced printing technologies: New technologies and techniques for higher quality and lower environmental impact.
Analytical Support for Customers
We provide our customers with access to our laboratory’s expertise and equipment to help them optimize their packaging processes.
Available Services:
- Compatibility testing: Ensures our films match specific food products.
- Packaging parameter optimization: Support in defining ideal settings for packaging machinery.
- Shelf-life analysis: Studies product evolution over time to optimize expiry dates.
- Problem-solving support: Analytical assistance to identify and resolve packaging issues.
The International Condensation Index (ICI) Protocol for Fresh Produce Packaging
Keeping Clarity and Quality with Advanced Anti-Fog Solutions
What is the International Condensation Index (ICI)?
The ICI is a technical benchmark used to quantify the performance of anti-fog applied to plastic films used in food packaging (like flowpack, top lids, or fresh product bags).
It provides a standardized, objective metric for evaluating a film’s ability to resist the formation of visible water droplets (fogging) under conditions that simulate real-world supply chains—specifically, the transition from refrigerated storage to ambient display temperatures.
The ICI protocol was developed by Uniqema, which was acquired by Croda International, another leading company in specialty chemical ingredients.
Why ICI Matters in Fresh Produce Packaging
Fresh-cut produce is highly sensitive to temperature changes. When a chilled package is moved to a warmer environment (e.g., from a cold storage room to a supermarket shelf), the humidity-rich air inside the package rapidly cools, causing moisture to condense on the inner surface of the film.
-
Anti-Fog Films are treated with an additive special surfactants that change the surface tension of the film. Instead of forming opaque droplets, the moisture spreads out into in a unique big drop that create a transparent layer.
-
The ICI Protocol determines how effective this treatment is, providing a letter rating that allows our customers to compare and select the best-performing anti-fog films for their specific needs.
The Test: How the ICI Rating is Determined
While the exact proprietary details of the Uniqema protocol are complex, the ICI is based on a structured test that mimics the critical temperature shock that causes condensation:
-
Temperature Shock: The packaging film is subjected to a rapid temperature change—typically simulating the shift from refrigeration to ambient temperature.
-
Observation & Scoring: The degree of condensation (the fogging effect) on the film’s inner surface is objectively measured and assigned a score.
-
The Result: The resulting ICI score indicates the film’s clarity performance:
- Higher ICI values signify superior anti-fog performance (less visible condensation, better clarity).
- Lower values indicate poor performance and heavy fogging.
Alvapack’s Commitment to Quality
By utilizing films tested and validated by the ICI protocol, Alvapack guarantees packaging that delivers maximum performance on two critical fronts:
Benefit
Enhanced Visibility: the anti-fog films maintain crystal-clear transparency, allowing the consumer to clearly see the quality of the fresh product inside. This is crucial for impulse purchases.
Superior Shelf-Life: by controlling condensation, the film helps manage the moisture balance inside the package, reducing the risk of water damage, wilting, and surface bacterial growth on the produce itself.
Reliability: the ICI rating provides an internationally recognized standard, giving you confidence in the consistency and effectiveness of our packaging solutions.
In Short (Q&A)
Alvapack: Laboratory, Testing, and Innovation at a Glance
Q: What makes Alvapack’s laboratory unique?
A: Our fully equipped in-house lab combines advanced technology with specialized expertise, ensuring complete control over research, testing, and quality assurance.
Q: Why are anti-fog tests so important?
A: Because visibility is key to fresh-cut products — anti-fog performance ensures a clear view of the food.
Q: How does Alvapack guarantee consistent quality?
A: Through continuous monitoring, strict testing protocols, and batch-by-batch verification across all critical parameters.
Q: Does Alvapack develop custom materials?
A: Yes. Our R&D team designs materials tailored to specific customer needs, from sustainability goals to shelf-life requirements.
Q: What is the International Condensation Index (ICI)?
A: The ICI is a standardized benchmark used to measure how effectively an anti-fog additive prevents visible condensation on plastic packaging films.
Q: Why is the ICI important for fresh produce packaging?
A: Because it ensures that consumers always see the product clearly and that freshness is preserved. An ICI-tested anti-fog film spreads moisture into a single big drop that creat a transparent layer instead of foggy droplets, improving visibility, reducing moisture-related spoilage, and guaranteeing consistent performance across the supply chain.
Want to test our films with your products?
REQUEST AN ANALYSIS
