PETpla.net Insider 01+02 / 2017

BOTTLING / FILLING PET planet Insider Vol. 18 No. 01+02/17 www.petpla.net 14 Complete line solutions for hot filled beverages Protecting sensitive beverages With 45 years of experience in hot filling and over 1,000 pieces of equipment for hot fill packaging installed world- wide, Sidel is highlighting how beverage producers can safely handle sensitive and natural beverages such as juices, teas and sports drinks from the preform to the bottled product. features of the customer’s packaged beverage, the company’s solutions employ the processing equipment and capabilities from Tetra Pak Processing Systems, to ensure processing and filling systems are seamlessly com- bined to reduce downtime, consump- tion and costs. Based on control and regulation systems, producers can increase performance and make more informed decisions, ensuring hygiene, efficiency and safety throughout the supply chain, says Sidel. Lightweighted HR PET bottle In terms of hot fill, the temperature of the beverage heating process is as high as 80-92°C which is above the normal thermal resistance of con- ventional PET bottles. “This requires specific packaging and equipment to allow PET to resist the hot filling temperature. In 1986, Sidel pioneered the heat-resistant (HR) stretch blow moulding process to allow PET bottles to withstand these high temperatures, since when the company has driven PET’s transformation into the flex- ible packaging solution it is today.” explains Gabriele Gatti, Sidel Filling Product Manager. Today, Sidel has reduced the weight of HR bottles while retaining their durability and increasing the bottle design opportu- nities. This latter achievement is due to the elimination of vacuum panels - previously a design necessity to absorb the variations in volume that the HR bottle and contents undergo passing from hot to cold conditions, and also to the efficient electrical mould heating and accurate material distribution. Responsive mould heating Traditionally, PET bottles for hot filling are produced via the heat- resistant stretch blow moulding pro- cess at 120°/140°C - a temperature usually attained by circuits of hot oil. By using electricity instead to heat the mould for the PET bottle body, the Sidel Matrix eHR blower enhances operator safety preventing hazards caused by oil leakages, such as operators’ slipping and product con- tamination. Probes are directly located in each mould shell to regulate the temperature as closely as possible to the PET bottle as it is formed. The process is very responsive, heating at a rate three times quicker than by ASEPTIC HOT FILL SPECIAL Complete hot filling line According to the market research company Euromonitor, the annual market growth of 6% for the consump- tion of sensitive drinks such as juices, nectars, still drinks, isotonics and teas presents significant business devel- opment opportunities for beverage producers worldwide. To accommo- date the demand of packaging solu- tions using hot fill technology, Sidel is offering a complete hot fill solution that is intended to expand packaging opportunities. Fully integrated and flexible, the company’s PET hot fill packaging solutions are claimed to provide reli- able and safe production. By taking a holistic view of the production cycle and line performance, Sidel’s intention was to optimise uptime and operat- ing costs. Focusing on the specific Sidel is using electricity instead of oil to heat the mould. Sidel Matrix Combi