TRADE SHOW PREVIEW PETplanet Insider Vol. 23 No. 03/22 www.petpla.net 44 Global trends of the international food and beverage industry Anuga FoodTec 2022 Following the Corona-related postponement of Anuga FoodTec from March 2021 to April 26-29 this year, organiser Koelnmesse is expecting a high number of registrations. The trade show offers the food and beverage industry an information and ordering platform for all sections of the production, processing and packaging. Liquid processing and sustainable packaging are among this year’s focus themes. The latest technical updates make it possible for machinery in the beverage industry to adapt to as many different containers as possible and fill the most varied products – from carbonated refreshment drinks to water. Step-by-step, the system manufacturers are networking production processes with the help of digital and smart technologies, so that machines can communicate and coordinate with one another more efficiently. Filling under hygienic conditions Mixed milk beverages, juices, smoothies and near-water products present especially stringent requirements for hygienic filling, as Manfred Härtel from KHS knows. As Product Manager Filling, Härtel is responsible for all filling technology at the Dortmund filling and packaging systems manufacturer. “Filling under aseptic conditions in particular is a protecting process for recontamination-free filling and sealing“, he explains – a technology for which there are hardly any alternatives. In order to ensure the safe filling of sensitive beverages, the linear fillers of KHS can be blocked with a rotative stretch blowing machine. Thanks to the blocking, a possible introduction of contaminants is minimised, which has a positive effect on hygiene and system availability. A transfer module developed to this purpose harmonises the continuous flow of PET bottles with the stepby-step filling process. The containers are divided up into units of ten pieces each in the process with the help of a handover carousel. In keeping with the industry wish for greater flexibility, the module is available in three variants: for blocking with the stretch blowing machine, with an additional outflow for the Plasmax coating machine or an optional bottle inflow that makes it possible to process both PET and HDPE bottles. The requirements for volumetric dispensing modules in the filling systems are also high. Thus, for example, the required output quantity must be precisely maintained at high frequencies, which is a challenge, especially for highly viscous liquids and chunky ingredients. In-line dispensers that function completely automatically and aseptically and are installed between processing and filling machines assume this task. Dual filling systems of this kind are equipped with two separate filling modules, which are located in the same microbiological isolator. More room to manoeuvre for ESL beverages The Whitebloc Aero from Gea is also based on proven aseptic technology, but was optimised for the specific requirements of ESL (Extended Shelf Life) products. The kicker: the bottle sterilisation with the help of dry H2O2 and the subsequent activation with hot air are possible in one and the same carousel. Sterilisation, filling and sealing take place in a clean room, in which sterile air that is evenly guided upwards under slight overpressure ensures the maintenance of the hygienic and protected environment. Depending upon the product sensitivity and the required minimum shelflife, various sterilisation goals can be defined to determine which are best suited depending upon the acidity of the products. Reusable PET containers, which are primarily used for carbonated soft drinks and water, have acquired a large market share in the past decade. However, PET packaging has played a more subordinate role for ESL products to date. A research project from Krones should now change this. Together with the cooperation partner, the plant manufacturer from Neutraubling was able to develop a reusable PET container that provides sensitive products optimal protection in the cooling chain. A special focus of Ines Bradshaw, responsible development engineer at Krones, was on the cleaning process of the containers, because: “PET is less heat-resistant than glass. We therefore had to find a way to ensure a high degree of microbiological safety and a large number of cycles at lower cleaning temperatures.“ This was successful thanks to the right choice of the cleaning parameters, especially with regard to the alkaline solution concentration, additive and mechanical impact. In microbiological terms, the PET bottles that had already gone through 25 cycles could not be distinguished from new ones. “Temperatures of around 60 °C are now adequate to reliably remove dried protein, fat and starch contamination from the containers“, according to Bradshaw. www.anugafoodtec.com
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTY0MjI=