Whether natural fruit and vegetable juices, probiotic milk drinks or water with vitamins or active ingredients filled in modern PET containers, the range of options seems to be endless. Individuality is the magic word. This also pertains to the various methods of product treatment. Some are relatively simple and well suited to conventional filling methods; others, however, react extremely sensitively and require elaborate technical machinery and systems.
The challenge for the beverage industry is to combine total process safety for sensitive products with the greatest possible economy. This is particularly important where maximum hygiene is required. At the same time, however, preservatives and thermal treatment are taboo, ensuring that the naturalness of sensitive products is retained.
At this level of hygiene KHS process engineering is able to meet every individual demand perfectly without neglecting the aspect of economy. Depending on the properties of the product to be bottled, ultraclean filling (UCF) or the extended shelf life method (ESL) are recommended in practice, as are aseptic products.
Product range
- Perfectly suitable for the pressurized filling of microbiologically sensitive beverages and for pressureless filling
Professional skills
- Plastic bottles with volumes from 0.1 to 3 liters
- Up to 60,000 bottles per hour, depending on the machine type
Benefits
- High microbiological safety
- High line efficiency
- Excellent sustainability
- Much lower media consumption
- Small footprint
- Low operating costs
Product range
For products with a pH greater than 4.5 or a low CO₂ content
Milk and mixed milk beverages, energy drinks, fruit and vegetable juices
Professional skills
- Plastic bottles with volumes from 0.1 to 2 liters
- Up to 36,000 bottles per hour,depending on the machine type
Benefits
- Maximum aseptic safety
- Low complexity
- Compact machine design
- Simple operation
- Low operating costs
Ultraclean filling
for still water and juice spritzers, for instance. Ultraclean filling (UCF) means the cold filling of beverages in a low-germ atmosphere. UCF provides an economical alternative to the aseptic method when bottling non-carbonated water and juice spritzers.
The filler/capper system in the latest generation of KHS UCF systems is integrated into what’s known as a mini hygiene housing which protects the filling area from outside influences. The key benefits are that up to 40% less space is required and that consumption of cleaning agents and sterile air is up to 20% lower. The simplified clean room concept also helps to save on the capital investment and day-to-day operating costs.
Filling method for ESL products
such as milk and fresh juice products for the cold chain. ESL products for the cold chain impose specific demands on contamination-free filling technologies. KHS Innosept Asbofill ESL technology bridges the gap between UCF and aseptic technology and is so to speak the linear little sister of the identical ABF aseptic machine series.
Aseptic filling methods
for fruit and vegetable juices, mixed milk, and near-water beverages, for example. The aseptic filling method provides the maximum possible safety for microbiologically sensitive products such as fruit and vegetable juices, mixed milk beverages, UHT milk and near-water products.
With its Innosept Asbofill ASR, KHS presents a new generation of aseptic rotary machine technology. With its range of linear and rotary systems the company can now give the industry a full aseptic program that leaves nothing to be desired.
The room-in-room concept is characteristic of all systems in this generation. The small aseptic zone is securely separated from the inner machine area by specially designed hygienic sealing systems and a positive displacement current of sterile air. A transparent outer machine housing provides additional protection against influences from the production environment. This creates a safety standard at the highest level.
Conclusion
Whether juice or milk beverages, still water or carbonated soft drinks, PET containers with a special design or standard shape, frequent product changeovers or long production cycles, the range of UCF, ESL and ASR machines from KHS provides protection for the full spectrum, whatever your requirements. For each desired application KHS provides advice and makes recommendations as to which technical systems give your company the greatest benefits.
Your contact on this topic
Dominique Leroy
global product account manager for sensitive products
KHS GmbH, Bad Kreuznach, Germany
Phone: +49 671 852-2066
Email: dominique.leroy@khs.com