Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) is used to prolong the shelf life of fruits, vegetables and salads with a specific level of CO₂ to keep the produce fresher for longer.  The optimal level varies widely according to the product. 

On the production line, sample packs are taken at regular intervals and the CO₂ levels checked by inserting a hollow needle into the pack and drawing out a sample of the gases for analysis.

However, standard CO₂ sensors take several minutes to stabilize on a reading -- during which time many bags can progress along a high-speed line.  The longer the read time, the more bags are made with potentially the wrong CO₂ level, which wastes product and money. 

In addition, packages that ship with the wrong CO₂ levels can spoil before the use by date, resulting in claims against the producer by the supermarkets. Storage Control Systems (SCS) wanted to create a portable gas analyzer that would provide an accurate CO₂ reading in seconds, and only need a small sample volume.  The sensor that they had been using in their products has a very high power consumption, which limits the operational life for a battery powered portable device, and was not fast enough in providing a reading for this application.