Vacuum Packaging That Can Save a Life

In an emergency on water, life jackets and life rafts need to be easily accessible and free of any damage. Any delays or problems could mean the difference between life or death. Vacuum pumps from Busch make sure that these essentials are compact enough to be right at hand and kept in optimal condition.

They are the indispensable piece of equipment on any plane or boat that one hopes never to have to use. But despite the low likelihood that they will ever see any action, life rafts and life vests must be maintained in peak condition so that in an emergency, they are ready. Vacuum packaging makes sure that these large items are kept both compact and safe from any negative external influences.

Vacuum for space saving

Whether in a plane, boat, or helicopter, space is at a premium. There is no place for bulky survival equipment – the larger each item is, the more likely it is to be stowed away to stop it taking up valuable room. Even when deflated, life vests and rafts trap air, causing the flexible material to expand. Vacuum packaging gives them a much smaller footprint and allows them to be stowed away almost imperceptibly but in an easy-to-reach place – like the lifejackets found under the seat in a commercial aircraft. To vacuum package the equipment, it is inserted into a vinyl pouch. This is put under vacuum using a vacuum pump from Busch. All the air is removed from both pouch and equipment and the package is heat sealed. These bags are normally very thin and easy to open, so that the user is not hindered in opening them in a real emergency.

Vacuum for a longer lifetime

A life raft attached to a boat spends its time at sea, in harsh, wet, and salty environments – an atmosphere that, if it is left without the correct protection, will damage the raft over time. The quickest way to shorten a life raft’s service life is to get it wet and allow it to stay that way. The salty moisture gets into the fabric, causing it to deteriorate over time. Metal parts can corrode, and seams can fail – all creating a dangerous situation in the event that the life raft needs to be put into action. While keeping it safely below deck would help prolong its life, this would be counterproductive in an emergency. Instead, the life raft is vacuum packaged. This method also has benefits for life rafts stored on a plane. Although these are not exposed to the elements, friction from the aircraft’s vibration can cause the fabric to rub together. Sealing the raft inside plastic under vacuum keeps moisture out and slows other forms of deterioration. This ensures that, should it one day be needed, it will be fully functional.