PETpla.net Insider 07+08 / 2011

BOTTLING / FILLING 30 PET planet insider Vol. 12 No. 07+08/11 www.petpla.net PET-Asept D Compact – the aseptic solution from Krones for the low output range* Krones has developed and field-tested a compact-sized PET aseptic filler, for mid-tier companies. Demand on the market is already high, since this provides bottlers with an option for handling even relatively small batches in aseptic mode while retaining viable cost-efficiency. Aseptic PET filling on a com- pactly dimensioned aseptic line facilitates the change-over from carton packages to PET, which is more popular with consumers, or quite generally getting started with PET-filling of sensitive beverages without any preservatives. The option for lightweighting bot- tles by using a nitrogen droppler ren- ders this technology more than equal in terms of cost-efficiency to the linear machines in the cartoning field. The PET-Asept D Compact technology is based on a line acceptance-tested by the American Food and Drug Admin- istration (FDA). No sterile-water UHT unit is now required to operate it. Containers and isolator are sterilised using gaseous hydrogen peroxide. The machine itself is cleaned using caustic and acid. This means that peracetic acid and foam cleaning products are no longer required on the system. Its small footprint on a mini- mised floor area is comparable to that of linear machines. The output range extends from 6,000 to 12,000 containers/h. The machine can be installed in a stand-alone configuration or also as a monobloc with a stretch blow- moulder. In the core zone, the machine concept is restricted to an area of 6 x 2m. Here, the containers are passed by a gripper conveyor system first through a pre-warming zone before proceeding to gaseous H 2 O 2 sterilisation and the blow-out section of the steriliser, and finally being filled and closed. The height- adjustable conveyor is already insulated from the sterile zone, thus enabling minimised change-over times without any handling parts to be achieved. PET-Asept D Compact is an authentic aseptic solution for mid-tier companies. The containers, closures and the isolator are dry-sterilised using H 2 O 2 , thus ensuring container reduction rates for interior decontamination of as much as log 5, and for exterior decontamination of log 4. The H 2 O 2 residue is assured at ≤ 0.5 ppm. Container shrinkage is likewise very low, at ≤ 0.5%. The PET-Asept D Compact can handle containers with heights of 120 to 350mm and diam- eters from 50mm, plus neck finishes of 28 to 38mm, as well as flatcaps and sportscaps as closures. The gentle H 2 O 2 process enables lightweight con- tainers, e.g. 13-to-14g preforms for a 330ml container, to be handled. There is also an option for dosing liquid nitrogen in order to reduce oxygen Compact and dry *Based on an article by Roland Laumer, Krones AG, Neutraubling sensitive BEVERAGES