Carton giant Tetra Pak has launched new electron beam sterilisation technology for its filling machines.
The Tetra Pak E3's Ebeam technology focuses a controlled beam of electrons onto the surface of packaging material as it runs through the filling machine, killing bacteria or micro-organisms that may be present.
The company claims it is an improvement from the hydrogen peroxide sterilisation process, both in speed and environmental performance. Benefits include reduced operational costs, improved environmental performance, and production flexibility.
Tetra Pak claims there is potential to run up to 40,000 portion packaging every hour with the E3 platform, equating to up to 11 packs per second. Tests showed this capacity could save beverage manufacturers up to 20 per cent in operational costs.
Ashutosh Manohar, vice president of carton value and economy, says the new platform also reduces energy costs, cuts waste and makes water recycling easier.
Charles Brand, Tetra Pak executive vice president of product management and commercial operations, says the technology received significant investment over a 15-year period to finally be ready for launch.
“Tetra Pak E3 not only delivers significant cost and environmental benefits to our customers but marks the start of a new era in carton making,” he says.
“The efficiency and effectiveness of filling equipment has just taken a major step forward.”
The sterilisation technology was developed by Tetra Pak in collaboration with a high-voltage and high-vacuum technology company called Comet.
Launched at Fispal, it follows successful pilots with leading dairy producers such as Slovakia's Rajo. Between 2011 and 2014, Rajo produced 110 million packages of UHT milk in the Tetra Brik Aseptic 1000 Slim on a Tetra Pak A3/Speed machine equipped with the new Ebeam sterilisation system.
The new E3 will be commercially available globally from 2016.
