Aseptic filling of sensitive beverages in PET at ambient temperature unveiled

08-Apr-09

Sidel Group, one of the leaders in packaging liquid foods, have recently announced that its patented dry preform decontamination system - Predis™, initially used for beverages distributed in the cold chain, can now also be used for products sold at ambient temperature. Combi Predis™ FMa is the company's innovative, simple system for blowing bottles and filling sensitive products in aseptic conditions. The key feature setting the system apart from other equipment of the same type is its "dry preform technology": bottle rinsing is replaced with dry preform sterilization at oven entrance, using hydrogen peroxide vapor (H2O2). The new system combines Predis™ solution with Sidel's newest aseptic filling technology, the Sensofill™ FMa, in a single equipment for blow molding, filling and capping. Aseptic packaging is used to extend the shelf life of sensitive drinks (juice, tea, flavored water and energy drinks) sold at room temperature While 250 m³ of water and 200 liters of chemicals are used daily to decontaminate bottles on a traditional aseptic bottling line, Predis™ dry-solution decontaminates preforms using hydrogen peroxide mist: it requires no water, extremely reduces the use of chemical agents and creates no effluent, the company affirms. Besides cost savings, other benefits include energy savings, a smaller footprint and the potential for lighter bottles: high-temperature sterilization of preforms instead of bottles avoids thermal stress on empty bottles. In collaboration with a dairy producer, Sidel is now crossing the final frontier: aseptic bottling of UHT milk with the Combi Predis™ FMa to treat low-acid beverages at ambient temperature, such as milk and other dairy products, which are extremely delicate and require even more careful handling, is a real challenge.