PETpla.net Insider 07+08 / 2021

BOTTLE MAKING 40 PETplanet Insider Vol. 22 No. 07+08/21 www.petpla.net Combination of PET bottle blowing and pulsed light decontamination in one machine 3-log decontamination without chemicals Logarithmic scales are used to determine what percentage of a germ is killed by a certain procedure or disinfectant. The logarithmic reduction (log) stands for a germ reduction by a factor of 10. In Serac’s ESL Combox, a 3-log decontamination of containers can be achieved which corresponds to a 99.9% reduction of undesired organisms. This is accomplished by combining the blowing of bottles in a controlled environment just before filling and pulsed light treatment of necks and caps. This level of decon- tamination can be enough for several applications to significantly extend the shelf life. For example, Serac’s ESL Combox is used for fresh white milk with a 30 days shelf life, or for drink- ing yogurts with a 60 days shelf life in Asia. Pulsed light is a fast and efficient decontamination method. It destroys the cell membrane of microorganisms and degrades their DNA in less than a millisecond. Using neither water nor chemicals, pulsed light allows dairies to guarantee the absence of treat- ment residues in the packaging and to better manage water resources, both in terms of consumption and effluents. Small footprint The ESL Combox combines the blowing, filling and capping functions in a single unit with a footprint up to 25% smaller than that of a conven- tional filling line, says Serac. It is capable of blowing round, rectangular, oval or complex shaped bottles, ranging from 250ml to 2 l. And its patented positive neck trans- fer system allows different shapes and sizes of bottles to be filled on the same machine, with very short changeover times. The machine has been designed for low to medium output. www.serac-group.com BOTTLE MAKING ESL Combox Preform treatment by pulsed light in the ESL Combox In the new ESL Combox, the dairy packaging specialist Serac combines PET bottle blowing and pulsed light decontamination. This machine won over several dairy companies by enabling them to emphasise their commitment to sustainability while expanding the products’ shelf life. Cap treatment by pulsed light in the ESL Combox