Q: What makes APT the leading supplier of CPET trays to the frozen foods industry?
A: APT's trays, manufactured from impact modified CPET resin, offer superior low temperature performance. Our proprietary material and process development have resulted in the highest performance trays in the marketplace, with technology broadly protected by patents in North America and Europe. This allows for a packaging system that can be geared to produce a cost-effective tray solution while delivering a consumer friendly and appealing meal delivery system.
Q: What does dual-ovenable mean?
A: Dual-ovenable refers to the trays' ability to withstand temperatures in conventional ovens, as well as temperatures associated with cooking in microwave ovens. When using the conventional oven it is important to use a cookie or baking sheet underneath the tray to facilitate an even heat distribution. We recommend allowing the tray to sit at least one minute before removing it from the microwave or cookie sheet.
Q: Why use APT trays over other bakery alternatives?
A: You can bake, freeze, distribute, and sell your product all in one container. Baked goods in APT trays look great and travel well.
Q: What if I have a custom application?
A: APT will work with you to develop a tray solution. We have a wide range of existing tooling shapes and sizes for bakery. We can help you find the right trays for either microwave or conventional oven baking or warming.
Q: What advantages will I see from APT's CR-Freshlock™ case-ready meat trays?
A:
Q: What makes APT an attractive source of foodservice trays for ready meals, institutional, quick service restaurant, senior meal programs, and many other applications?
A: In its role as the leading supplier of frozen food trays to global food brands, APT has developed an extensive array of of tooling - single and multi-compartment, bowls, and other shapes in a wide range of sizes. APT trays are well suited for Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) applications. Our trays help promote extended shelf-life in your refrigerated case. Recently, APT has added a line of polypropylene trays that are ideal for freezer to microwave applications. These represent a lower cost alternative to CPET, but comparable performance in the 0 to 200 degree F range.
Q: Can APT assist with sealing concerns?
A: Yes. APT has extensive experience in helping our customers overcome sealing related issues. We do this by supplying a superior product specifically designed to run on your high-speed production lines and to seal through contaminants such as sauces, fats and small particulates. We can offer packaging engineering support to work with your manufacturing facilities, equipment suppliers, and film suppliers to deliver a quality, cost effective package.
Q: How do I obtain custom tooling for a container that will address my application?
A: The first step is to provide us with the dimensions (length x width x depth), fluid ounce capacity, anticipated annual volume (this helps us to determine the tool size that would best accommodate your orders), type of denesting machine that the trays will run on, sealing requirements, cooking temperature requirements, and end use application (fresh, frozen, modified atmosphere, case-ready). The next step is for APT to provide you with a drawing of the trays based on your supplied information. You can then review and approve the drawing. Next step is the prototype, in which we provide you with samples to test. When you approve these samples, we order tooling to manufacture your custom tray designed specifically for you and your applications.
Q: If I switch from a paperboard tray to a CPET tray will my costs go up dramatically?
A: APT has been able to tighten the cost gap between CPET and ovenable paperboard variations through design, process, and formulation variations. You also gain value by offering an upscale plastic package preferred by consumers.
Q: What do you mean that your trays offer superior breakage performance?
A: Plastic has a tendency to break when it is introduced to frozen environments and then mishandled. To address this issue, APT has come up with superior resin formulations that drastically reduce the possibility of breakage. We have set the standard for reduced breakage in the industry by pioneering formulation and process variations that have put us ahead of our competition.
Q: What does dual-ovenable mean?
A: Dual-ovenable refers to the trays' ability to withstand temperatures in conventional ovens, as well as temperatures associated with cooking in microwave ovens. When using the conventional oven it is important to use a cookie or baking sheet underneath the tray to facilitate an even heat distribution. We recommend allowing the tray to sit at least one minute before removing it from the microwave or cookie sheet.
Q: What safe cooking temperatures do you recommend for CPET trays?
A: While CPET trays are capable of withstanding higher and lower temperatures, we recommend temperatures up to 400 degrees F.
Q: What advantages are associated with APT extruding its own sheet?
A: APT's ability to extrude sheet is an advantage. We control the formulation used to produce the sheet, and we control the equipment that makes the sheet. By producing our sheet in-line with our patented forming process we can improve output, improve quality, and ensure consistency.
Q: What does APT do to help protect the environment?
A: For years, APT has promoted the use of the top designated PET based containers. We also employ a closed loop manufacturing process that all but eliminates scrap material. After our trays are trimmed from the sheet the remaining "web" is then fed into a grinder. Then, the ground web is reintroduced into the system and formed into sheet. More recently, the company has introduced a line of post-consumer recycled PET trays that offer identical performance specs as our CPET trays. APT has partnered with the top food companies to bring the first RePET (recycled PET) frozen food trays to market in North America. The trays use up to 40 percent post-consumer recycled plastic and divert a minimum of 10 million pounds of plastic from landfills every year.
Q: How is post-consumer PET made safe for food applications?
A: APT uses a new plastics process that cleans recycled plastic for use as a component in frozen food trays. Older technologies limited food companies to using only new plastic in compliance with regulations for direct food contact materials. The new ultra-clean technology, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for direct food contact, makes it safe for consumers.
Q: What does APT do to help protect the environment?
A: For years, APT has promoted the use of PET plastic for our trays. PET is one of the leading recycled materials in the world. More recently, the company has introduced a line of post-consumer recycled PET or RePET trays that offer identical performance specifications as our CPET trays. APT has partnered with a major food company to bring the first RePET frozen food trays to market in North America. The trays use up to 40 percent post-consumer recycled plastic and divert a minimum of 10 million pounds of plastic from landfills every year.
Can I get RePET in trays that I order from APT?
A: Yes. All of our manufacturing facilities have production capability for the new RePET trays. Contact us for more information on ordering our RePET trays.
Q: What are the major reasons to use APT's polypropylene vs. CPET food trays?
A: For applications that do not require dual-ovenable performance, polypropylene is recommended. It goes from freezer to microwave ovens (0 to 220 degrees F). CPET goes from freezer to either microwave or conventional ovens (-40 to 400 degrees F). For microwave only requirements, polypropylene is a good alternative because it costs less.
Q: What are the advantages of APT multi-layer polypropylene food trays.
A: They are retortable, have a hot fill capability to 200 degrees F, and their multilayer structures have excellent oxygen and moisture barrier. They can be easily sealed with a variety of lid stocks.
