VACUUM PACKING

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 19 June 1928, Page 11

VACUUM PACKING

TRIAL BUTTER SHIPMENT. FLAVOUR IMPROVED. PROGRESS OF SYSTEM. The possibility of important extension in the use of the vacuum packing process for dairy products is indicated in a cablegram received in Hawera. on Monday from Messrs 11. A. Lane and Company, of London, stating that the shipment of Hawera butter vacuum packed and forwarded on the S.S. Devon, early in April, opened up superior in flavour and in fresher condition than obtained with produce forwarded in the usual manner in boxes. Hitherto the investigations concerning the process have been in relation to cheese only and the apparent success of the new experiment with relation to butter opens a further wide scope for the application of this method of packing produce for long transport. The London cable, a copy of which was shown to a “Hawera Star” reporter by Mr. T. Reynolds, manager of the Vacuum Products, Limited, advises further that the containers referred to were opened in the presence of Messrs Davies (control Board representative), Wright and Ross (New Zealand Department Agriculture) and Vickeridge. This shipment of 20 containers of 701b5., each was packed by Mr. C. Bowman, general manager of the Hawera Co-op Dairy Company, at Glover Road factory, as" a trial shipment. The ordinary metal cheese containers were used, necessitating a lot of handling of the butter, which, Mr. Bowman considered at the time was injurious to its keeping qualities. Since this shipment, however, the Vacuum Products Company lias devised and patented a new butter container which requires no soldering and is very easily opened. Further shipments are going forward at once packed.jn the new containers. Those interested are very sanguine that New Zealand butter, will, under vacuum packing, stand up to all of the detrimental effects of transport, land or water.

SAVING ON FREIGHT. Arising out oif the experience gained through the recent fire in the West Coast Refrigerating Company's buildings, when it was found that cheesefilled containers left in an open room and exposed to* the fierce heat had not been impaired, another experiment the result of which may point the way to extensive economy in freight charges is at present under way. By the S.S. Ho rorata, which left Wellington. on May 30, three hundred containers carrying ELtliam, Hawera and Ararata cheese arc being forwarded to London to Messrs Clements, Lane and Co., Weddals and the New Zealand Marketing Association as ordinary cargo. As explained by Mr Reynolds, the advantage of this means a saving of over £3 per ton in freight oharges. That amount is sufficient to cover the cost to dairy companies of the vacuum containers and allow a further saving of about I'2-i per cent on freight costs, while a further recommendation is that the possibility of condensation being set up through the containers being in cool storage would be obviated. A brief cabled report of this may be expected early next month. Many other interesting experimental shipments have been made during the past few weeks, among which are vacuum packed butter and cheese to China and South Africa, and consignments of fruit juices which have opened up m first-class order, and a ready market is -now awaiting further consignments of passion fruit, lemon and orange juices. Nuts of all varieties, including walnut meat from China have stood the test of time and opened up satisfactorily. The same remark applies to chocolates and biscuits. . . .

The latest acquisition to vacuum packing is ’a machine to pack tins of cheese for the Eastern, and fancy cheese for the Continental markets.