A new tray bottom with integrated mechanical absorption and new formats designed to meet different fresh food packaging requirements will be among the main innovations presented by ILIP at Cibus Tec 2026. The company, part of the ILPA Group and specialised in food packaging, will focus on developments in its HeatSealingMaster and StretchMaster ranges, alongside the SliceMaster line.
This new solutions are part of a development strategy aimed at combining technical performance and sustainability, with a focus on food protection, packaging-line reliability and more efficient use of resources. The approach is based on Eco-Design principles, under which reducing raw material consumption and incorporating recycled materials must be achieved without compromising the performance required by the application.
New solutions for exudate management
The HeatSealingMaster range will be one of the main highlights at Cibus Tec. It comprises heat-sealable trays for fresh food packaging, including modified-atmosphere packaging (MAP), and is available in three versions: Evo, made from monomaterial PET; Duo, made from PET/PE; and Bio, made from compostable bioplastic certified to EN 13432.
The range now incorporates the new Macrocell bottom, designed for applications requiring a high capacity to contain exudates. It is available in the MT230 and MT250 formats and complements the existing Microcell technology, offered in the Evo and Duo versions.
Both systems integrate mechanical absorption directly into the tray bottom, allowing exudates to be captured and retained without the need for a conventional absorbent pad.
The range is further expanded with the new M230 8-Hamburger and 1/2 Gastro formats, broadening the potential applications of the technology.
StretchMaster expands its formats
The StretchMaster range has also been expanded with a new 195 × 144 mm format. Designed for automatic packaging lines using stretch film or flow pack, the range is available in monomaterial PET with a high recycled content and in compostable bioplastic.
The Evo version can also incorporate the Microcell bottom, extending the possibilities for integrated exudate management within automatic packaging processes.
Completing the portfolio is the SliceMaster line, which comprises heat-sealable trays featuring an R-PET/EVOH/PE barrier structure for packaging cold cuts and sliced products under modified atmosphere.
Together, the three ranges provide packaging solutions for a wide variety of fresh food applications, including meat, sliced products, fish, cheese and fresh pasta.
Performance and sustainability
“In food packaging, sustainability cannot be separated from performance,” says Giovanni Donini, Business Manager Foodservice Packaging & Fresh Food Packaging at ILIP. “Reducing a tray’s weight or increasing its recycled material content only makes sense if the product continues to deliver the required levels of safety, preservation and reliability on packaging lines. That is why we work to optimise materials and structures, with the aim of using resources more efficiently without compromising packaging functionality.”
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The T2T R-PET® (tray-to-tray) circular model developed within the ILPA Group is a key element of this strategy. Thanks to the Group’s vertically integrated recycling operations, ILIP can use secondary raw material derived not only from bottles but also from post-consumer trays and punnets to manufacture new R-PET food packaging.
This approach gives recovered materials a new application and reduces reliance on virgin raw materials, while maintaining quality and traceability. According to ILIP, its R-PET packaging currently contains an average of approximately 80% recycled material.
