InnoVent^®: Keeping Produce on the Pallet Ventilated and Fresh

Rising temperatures and extended dry spells across the globe are impacting the production of fruits and vegetables. But these challenging climatic conditions are also affecting the storage and transport of produce, which can remain in containers for four to eight weeks before being distributed to retailers.

That’s where improved pallet ventilation comes into play. Since ventilating pallet wrap enables fruits and vegetables to breathe better, demand for this new packaging product is on the rise… with one condition; that it prevents condensation, which can damage produce packaged in paper bags or boxes.

Enter Tama’s InnoVent. Our latest innovative ventilating pallet wrap helps reduce condensation while keeping produce fresh throughout the storage and transport stage.

Designed with technology that enables maximum ventilation and maximum support, InnoVent is revolutionizing ventilating pallet wrap by lowering the number of wraps per pallet and reducing wrapping time without compromising load stability. Whether applied by machine or by hand, the patented InnoVent creates a controlled environment across all packages on a pallet. This enables optimal airflow between and around the palletized goods to ensure proper cooling rates and respiration. By creating a microclimate within the wrap, InnoVent guarantees the freshness of perishable goods while preventing decay.

We have conducted several tests to validate our ventilating wraps’ ability to enable free airflow in and out of the wrapped loads, always indicating that it does the job. Since introducing InnoVent, we have conducted tests at customer sites worldwide that are not available to the public.

To prove our point publicly and objectively, we contacted the South African Table Grape Industry (SATI) to evaluate InnoVent’s cooling and ventilation capabilities. We took six pallets holding dozens of boxes of grapes, and then wrapped three of them with InnoVent and the three others with corners and strapping, the traditional method for securing pallets. We blasted cold wind for 12-18 hours on the pallets, lowering the temperature in the chamber housing them from 20^oC to 0^oC (68^oF to 32^oF). And we used three probes to measure the temperature of the produce at various points throughout the pallet. Cooling the entire pallet is critical, because goods closer to the exit points spoil more quickly than those further away given their warmer temperatures.

The end results of the independent study were clear. InnoVent offers the same level of ventilation and cooling as corners and strapping. With InnoVent, airflow is consistent across the entire pallet, cooling all produce – from fruits and vegetables to flowers and plants – to an optimum temperature as quickly as the competition, so that the goods stay fresh for a long time. Delivering a level of air circulation that ensures freshness for produce and goods that require rapid cooling, freezing, drying, evaporating, and ventilating – InnoVent prevents moisture build-up and extends shelf life.

Moreover, InnoVent is applied to a host of other non-perishable goods – including heavy duty building materials, firewood, and chemicals – that need to avoid mold and mildew caused by humid conditions to function effectively.