Packaging fish and seafood presents a distinct set of challenges, from safeguarding delicate textures to extending shelf life under strict hygiene requirements.
SÜDPACK, a German manufacturer of high-performance films, is positioning itself as a specialist in this demanding segment with two product families designed specifically for highly perishable goods: SKINPro and Multifol Extreme.
Fresh salmon fillets, tuna portions, whole gilt-head bream, smoked trout, shelled crayfish, mussels and shrimp skewers share a common vulnerability. Their irregular shapes, sharp edges, high moisture content and short shelf lives increase the risk of product loss and place pressure on processors to balance safety, cost efficiency and sustainability. In this context, packaging becomes more than a protective layer; it functions as a lever for profitability and waste reduction across the supply chain.
Meeting those demands requires films that can be processed efficiently while delivering reliable seals and strong barrier properties. In seafood applications, skin, modified atmosphere and vacuum packaging remain the dominant technologies. Regardless of format, materials must withstand punctures from sharp edges, maintain sealing integrity even in contaminated areas and help limit oxygen exposure, all while minimizing material usage.
SÜDPACK developed SKINPro as a vacuum skin packaging system tailored to seafood applications such as shrimp skewers, salmon fillets and whole fish. The system combines a thin, high-performance top web with a coordinated bottom web engineered to work together. The top layer conforms tightly to the product, accommodating pronounced contours and undercuts while securing the product in place. By removing oxygen and providing a tailored barrier, the system is designed to extend shelf life while preventing liquid release within the pack.
The company offers a range of bottom webs for SKINPro, including polyethylene, polypropylene and APET-based options, as well as mono-material variants aimed at meeting recyclability requirements. The material structures are designed for compatibility with standard skin packaging equipment, supporting reliable and efficient processing.
Beyond functionality, SKINPro is positioned as a premium retail solution. Its wrinkle-free, highly transparent top web is intended to maximize product visibility and enhance shelf appeal. Easy-opening characteristics and a clean finish are designed to improve the consumer experience.
Multifol Extreme represents a second approach, targeting more demanding packaging scenarios. The flexible film is suited for modified atmosphere or vacuum packaging of fatty, protein-rich or sharp-edged products, including fresh salmon, white fish, herring portions and frozen seafood. The material emphasizes sealing performance and puncture resistance while reducing weight.
According to SÜDPACK, Multifol Extreme is approximately 30% lighter than conventional polyamide/polyethylene structures. A 150-micron film can replace a 200-micron thermoforming film without compromising protection, potentially lowering material consumption and logistics costs. Additional reductions are possible when pairing a Multifol Extreme base film with a lidding film from the same range.
Despite its reduced thickness, the film is designed to protect sensitive products effectively. It also supports deep-draw applications and runs on standard thermoforming packaging machines, enabling processors to integrate the material without significant equipment changes.
As seafood producers face mounting pressure to reduce waste, extend shelf life and improve sustainability metrics, SÜDPACK is betting that high-performance film solutions can deliver gains not only at the packaging line but throughout the broader supply chain.
Find out more at: https://www.suedpack.com/en/suedpack-group