On a mission for freshness - development of the CLIP & CLOSE fresh food container

Cooperation partner EMSA GmbH and FH Münster

How do food storage containers with clip lids keep their contents fresh even longer? This was the question that EMSA GmbH investigated together with Münster University of Applied Sciences. Their goal: not only to present the customer with a really tight and hygienic can, but also to bring their own production back to Germany. The Clip & Close food storage can was developed - with impressive results.

Find out more about the innovation from Münsterland on this page.

EMSA GmbH

EMSA is a leading manufacturer of household products with its head office and production facility in Emsdetten. EMSA employs around 550 people, 200 of whom are based in China. EMSA is one of the most important training companies in the Münsterland region with 30 trainees in twelve professions. The CLIP & CLOSE food container, one of the company's focus product groups, was developed and is produced at the Emsdetten site.

FH Münster

Around 15,000 students study at Münster University of Applied Sciences at the Münster and Steinfurt campuses. The Department of Chemical Engineering is a partner for application and science-related teaching and research in chemistry and chemical engineering. Research at the Institute for Sustainable Nutrition is dedicated to the development of concepts, products and services for sustainable nutrition.

Challenge: A sustainable alternative to silicone sealing

Food storage containers whose lids close with clips are usually equipped with a silicone seal inserted in the lid. These seals are inserted because silicone cannot be combined with other plastics. However, such seals have three decisive disadvantages with regard to fresh food cans. Firstly, the cans are not always 100 per cent leak-proof in everyday use. Secondly, in the long run food residues remain between the inserted silicone seal and the lid, so that germs can form. Thirdly, this technology can only be realised with a great deal of manual effort, which is why production in Europe is hardly economically justifiable.

That is why the Münsterland-based company EMSA set itself the goal of developing a sustainable alternative to silicone and bringing the outsourced production from Asia back to its own production facility in Germany.

Solution approach: A firmly bonded, highly elastic seal

EMSA developed the CLIP & CLOSE food storage can in close cooperation with the Department of Chemical Engineering at Münster University of Applied Sciences. This type of food storage container uses a highly elastic seal that is firmly attached to the lid and manufactured using an injection moulding process. The novel seal eliminates all the disadvantages of a conventional silicone seal. Thanks to a funded research project, EMSA had the chance to conduct further research and develop the idea to the point where it was ready for series production.

For the seal, a soft component from medical technology is now physically treated in such a way that it has better mechanical properties than previous silicone seals. In this way, EMSA secured a clear technological lead over its competitors, and at the same time created an optimised product for its customers that no longer allows germs and keeps food fresh for longer.

Success: Food stays fresh longer

Food stays fresh up to twice longer in the CLIP & CLOSE food storage box compared to ordinary storage methods.
© EMSA

The benefits of the new CLIP & CLOSE seal were confirmed by the Institute for Sustainable Nutrition at Münster University of Applied Sciences in microbiological tests with impressive results. Since the lid and seal are firmly connected, there are no gaps and therefore no more germs. Food stays fresh up to twice longer in the CLIP & CLOSE fresh-keeping tin compared to ordinary storage methods, as tests by the Institute for Sustainable Nutrition proved.

In addition, the CLIP & CLOSE food storage container is dishwasher safe, microwave and freezer safe and "Made in Germany" - with a 30-year guarantee. The project has developed into a long-term collaboration between EMSA and Münster University of Applied Sciences, not only with regard to the product, but also in other areas.

Awards

EMSA was one of the "TOP 100" most innovative medium-sized companies from 2014 to 2017
5th Marketing Award (2014) from the Münster Osnabrück Marketing Club for the "Mission Freshness" communication concept for the CLIP & CLOSE food storage container
"Product of the Year 2011" and "reddot design award 2011" for outstanding product design

Enabling Networks Innovation Stories

As a regional joint initiative, Enabling Networks Münsterland supports companies and universities in the Münsterland region in developing innovations, implementing them and finding the right partners for the project. In order to show how innovative and at the same time cooperative Münsterland already is, the project also went in search of innovative cooperation projects from the region. The results are presented on this page. The Enabling Networks Münsterland project is funded by the European Union and the NRW Ministry of Economics as part of the ERDF call "Regio.NRW".