NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ONTARIO — Chantler Packaging Inc. of Mississauga, Ontario, plans to boost its U.S. sales of packaging that helps keep fruit and vegetables fresh longer, Chief Executive Officer Roy Ferguson said in an interview at the Plastics Summit — Borders without Barriers in Niagara-0n-The-Lake.
Peakfresh film reduces ethylene gas levels to prolong produce life. The low density polyethylene film contains an undisclosed mineral that makes the film microporous so that ethylene can escape. Ethylene gas emitted by produce hastens the ripening process.
Chantler is considering licensing Peakfresh to a company in California, Ferguson said in a post-summit telephone interview. California and Florida are its major U.S. markets. A company related to Chantler owns Peakfresh's North American licensing rights and has already licensed AT Plastics Inc. of Brampton, Ontario.
Ferguson said his firm now sells Peakfresh directly and through distributors to produce operations. He expects increasing demand to spur Chantler to add another extrusion line and silo by early next year. Chantler began making commercial quantities of the film four years ago.
Peakfresh Ltd. of Adelaide, Australia, also licenses the technology to five other firms around the world.
Chantler, formed in 1930, employs about 40.
Ferguson would not disclose sales of the privately held company.
