- 4 November 2019
- General
- Bart Kroes
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Gel packs are leak-proof polyethylene bags filled with polymer-based cooling gel. They are used for refrigerated or conditioned transport of goods. With gel packs, you can easily ensure that your products arrive at their destination in perfect condition. Because gel packs are widely applicable in logistics, our customers use our gel packs all over Europe. Sectors where gel packs are frequently used are the food industry (e.g. meat, fish and fruit and vegetables), the medical sector (pharmacy and blood transport) and the flower sector. This article explains what gel packs are and how they can help you with refrigerated transport.
The thickness (also called viscosity) of the cooling gel is very important. If the gel is too thick, it heats up too quickly. But if the gel is too thin, the gel pack will leak more quickly in the event of minor damage. We make the gel ourselves and carry out daily quality checks. This way we can guarantee consistent quality.
The foil and the gel we use for our gel packs comply with the strictest requirements and wishes for packaging in the food industry. Our gel packs are non-toxic and food proof. This means that the gel can come into contact with food without posing a health risk.
At Coolpack, we have a wide range of gel packs. You can choose from our Original Gel Pack, Kraft Gelpack, No Sweat Gel Pack, Segmented Gel Pack, PA-PE gelpack, traypack gelpack and ice pack. These gel packs are available in various standard sizes. All gel packs are manufactured on site at Coolpack. If the desired size is not among them, then it is possible to have the gel packs custom-made for you. You can also choose to have the gel packs printed with your own design. For more information or advice, you can always contact us. Our experts will gladly think along with you.
Our Original Gel Packs are generally used for shipments of up to 24 hours. Depending on the type of packaging and the amount of cooling required, longer transports can also be handled well. The regular gel packs are designed to transport goods between 0 and 8 degrees Celsius. Phase Change Material can be a solution for other temperature ranges.
By filling the gel pack with Phase Change Material (PCM) you can transport goods within a small and stable temperature range. PCM is a collective name for all materials that can change their phase. This filling is distinguished by the addition of a substance, such as salt, glycones and/or paraffin. The different substances ensure that different melting/turning points are possible. This makes it possible to cool a gel pack to -21 degrees Celcius or to increase the solidification point to +20 degrees Celcius. The experts of De Ridder Packaging are happy to help you determine which temperature range is suitable for your application.
The Kraft Gel Packs are characterized by a kraft paper layer on the outside. Kraft paper is strong and durable. This is because the long paper fibres are pressed very tightly together, which results in a high density. The durable appearance of this gel pack is the reason why many companies choose this product.
No sweat Gel Packs are the ideal solution for sending products which are sensitive to moisture and temperature. This innovative gel pack is designed to minimise surface condensation. This makes them very suitable for use in both EPS boxes and cardboard boxes. The gel pack bag consists of multiple layers, with a sheath of non-woven material. This casing absorbs the condensation created during transport. This ensures that moisture-sensitive products reach their destination in optimum condition.
Segmented Gel Packs, also known as switched gel packs, are gel packs consisting of two or three different compartments. The advantage of these gel packs is that they are more flexible. Because of this, they can easily be folded around the goods to be transported, so that they remain optimally cooled. A good example of this are the gel pack strings. This long gelpack can be folded around a pallet. This way, the pallet can be optimally cooled.
The segmented gel packs can be made to fit an EPS (Styrofoam) box. This allows the entire contents to be covered by a gel pack. In this way, a product can be completely encased in a cube to achieve optimum cooling results. This is why these gel packs are mainly used in the medical sector, for example, when transporting blood tubes.
PA-PE gel packs are extra strong gel packs because they have been provided with a thicker casing. The film consists of three layers, whereby the inner and outer layer are made of polyethylene. The middle layer is made of polyamide so that the gel pack is less vulnerable. For example, these gel packs will be more resistant to sharp objects.
The Traypack gel pack differs in a few ways from the gel packs mentioned above. The shape is different. The Traypack gel pack is shaped like a sturdy container, which is sealed on all four sides at the top. In addition, the film used for the Traypack gel pack is twice as thick as that used for the regular gel packs.
The Traypack gel pack offers a great deal of space for specific requirements. A thickness of no less than 40 mm can be achieved, which means that a higher weight can be achieved compared to regular gel packs. In addition, it is possible to divide the Traypack gel pack into compartments of up to 380 mm in width and a self-determined length. This creates a segmented gel pack, with the flexibility and dimensions of the Traypack gel pack.
If you are looking for a form-fitting cooling element, the Traypack can also be a solution for this. This is because it is also available in the form of a Foambrick or Spongepack. This ensures that the shape remains the same in unfrozen condition. You can read more about this in our brochure on dimensionally stable cooling elements.
Ice packs are supplied as empty sheets. You can easily fill them yourself by submerging them in water. The sheets will fill with water, which will then mix with the powder already present in the Ice packs. This will create the thick cooling gel inside the ice packs. You can then simply freeze the Ice packs and use them. Ice packs are very suitable if you have limited storage capacity for refrigerants. In addition, the transport costs are lower because the product is more compact and lighter.
Do you have doubts about which refrigerated solution is the most suitable for your logistic challenge? Then contact one of our experts. Coolpack has been providing packaging solutions for chilled and conditioned transport of numerous products for more than 25 years. Besides gel packs, we also supply dimensionally stable cooling elements, Styrofoam boxes and absorption mats.
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