CoolVu Food
CoolVu is a Time Temperature Indicator suitable for all temperature sensitive products. This novel patent protected technology shows the total temperature history of the product it is attached to. The label is assembled from a metal label and a transparent label containing an etchant. Once the etchant label is put on top of the metal layer the label is activated. Labels can be kept in room temperature conditions prior to activation for a long time. The etching process is time and temperature dependent reveling a visual change at the end of the process. CoolVu can be calibrated for product with shelf life of days to years and can be designed as a one step or multi step TTI. Application of CoolVu is done using a two head applicator on the packaging line.
Product status: Commercial
CoolVu - Thaw and Sell
CoolVu T&S (“Thaw and Sell”) is an intelligent “use by date” for perishable food products that are kept frozen for lengthy (but variable) periods of time, and are then thawed for sale. In many cases such as this, the product’s ultimate “best before” or “use by” date is determined from the point of thawing. CoolVu indicators are applied at the point of packaging, and remain dormant as long as the products are kept frozen. Once the products are thawed for sale, the indicator’s time/temperature “clock” begins to tick, and gives the intended users (distributors + retailers and/or consumers) a clear visual indication as to the end point of the product’s shelf life. The product is able to be calibrated to various shelf lives.
Product status: Commercial
CoolVu Active Barcode
CoolVu Active Barcode technology turns industry standard barcode symbols into smart traceability tools. Based on the CoolVu metal TTI technology platform, a time temperature dependant reaction causes the barcode to change its optical properties, resulting in a situation in which an additional part of the barcode becomes readable following a pre-defined temperature abuse. This allows for an electronic reading of the visual change of the barcode label with standard barcode scanning equipment. A quick, accurate barcode scan, at any defined point within the supply chain, allows users to take crucial “go” or “no-go” decisions based on the actual aggregate temperature history of the product to that point.
Product status: Advanced Development
CoolVu RF Compatible
CoolVu RF, based on the core CoolVu metal TTI technology, is an add-on to existing RFID systems, enabling electronic monitoring and transmission of the temperature history of the product to which it is attached. CoolVu RF works on the principle that the metal base layer within the indicator has electronic characteristics (capacitance and resistance) that are dynamic and affected as a result of being etched at a rate that is time and temperature dependant. As such, when attached to an RFID chip, a reader can collect data from the label that includes both the aggregate temperature history of the product, and the remaining shelf life left. This provides for intelligent inventory management, and creates an opportunity to dramatically reduce the amount of temperature related perishable shrink by first selling those products that the reader shows have the least shelf life left.
Product status: Under Development
Coolimark Food Rotation
CooliMark is a patent protected Time Temperature Indicator label designed to optimize food rotation. Food Rotation is an essential component of any food operation and can help ensure that the foods used are fresh, of the highest quality and safe. At the same time, a good rotation program ensures product loss can be kept to a minimum, helping to control food costs and maximize the operational efficiency of your business.
To date dealing with food rotation took only one component into consideration; time, while the actual temperature in which the product was kept, and has the most significant effect on the safety and quality of the food, could not be measured.
CooliMark changes all of this.
CooliMark allows you to easily see if your product is still good for use and if it was kept in the desired temperature regime. Easy to use efficient solution, for true food safety with minimal waste.
Product status: Commercial
o2sense
O2Sense is a range of patent pending oxygen sensing products aimed at the Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) market. This range consists of 2 primary versions: 1 – An eye readable indicator that gives a clear, visual indication by means of a color change as to whether the amount of oxygen that is present in a sealed food package is within the specified limits. This indicator is intended to alert producers, retailers and consumers of possible breaches of integrity in the package that could lead to an unsafe product. 2 – A machine readable indicator that elicits a clear electronic signal when read by means of a proprietary optical reader that is placed on a production packaging line. This is intended to be used as a quality assurance tool for producers to ensure that that the products they manufacture are packaged with the correct level of oxygen.
Product status: Under Development
Time It
Time-It is a patent pending smart, low cost device that indicates the time lapsed since activation, thereby informing consumers as to the deadline by which the product they have opened must be used. Each indicator is pre-set to a predefined temperature in accordance with the storage conditions of the product it is monitoring. Unlike other solutions, activation of Time-It takes place automatically as a product is opened. Use of such a product both reduces the risk that consumers will consume a product that may have become unsafe, and also increases the purchase frequency by ensuring that products are either consumed or discarded faster.
Product status: Under Development