Tetra Pak launches intelligent beverage pasteurizer that combines economy with ecology

08 Sep 2009

The new generation of Tetra Therm Aseptic Drink pasteurizers enables beverage producers to cut water consumption by up to 80%, energy by up to 30% and product losses by up to 30%, compared to other solutions on the market. This gives higher operational efficiency and lower environmental impact.

Tetra Pak is today launching the new generation of Tetra Therm Aseptic Drink, a cost-efficient and flexible unit for processing a wide range of beverages. Thanks to the introduction of an advanced automation system, the new generation units secure unsurpassed operational efficiency and life-cycle performance.

"With the Tetra Therm Aseptic Drink unit, we want to enable our customers to achieve worry-free operation," says Sam Strömerstén, president of Tetra Pak Processing Systems. "Each unit can be customized to meet specific customer demands. Each unit is hygienically designed for easy and thorough cleaning. Each unit is pre-tested before shipping. And self-diagnostics assure optimal performance at all times."

In addition to self-diagnostics, the new generation pasteurizers - which are suitable for juices & nectars, still drinks, tea drinks and enhanced water, including new "wellness" drinks with high value-added sensitive ingredients - include a range of other advanced automation features. For example, the units will automatically identify deviations in process parameters, enabling immediate operator action to maintain optimized operation. And they will provide automatic notification of every maintenance requirement - helping all but eliminate costly, unplanned production stops.

The new pasteurizer is also compatible with the Tetra PlantMaster control system that enables additional intelligence functions such as full traceability, with unit history, batch control and review of all previous actions. These are important aspects that cut the risk of human error and contribute to food safety.

A new balance tank, heat exchangers and deaerators sharply reduce water and energy consumption as well as product loss. Energy consumption is further cut thanks to improved energy recovery through double hot-water circuits.

The new Tetra Therm Aseptic Drink is a good example of an outstanding unit in Tetra Vertenso beverage production solutions; the new name for Tetra Pak's ability to apply its expertise to develop and deliver customized components and lines that meet the needs of beverage producers and enable them to achieve outstanding operational efficiency.

In addition to Tetra Therm Aseptic Drink pasteurizers, Tetra Vertenso production solutions also comprise proven technology for a vast range of other beverage processing needs, e.g. heat treatment, mixing, blending and many other processes required by cost- and quality-conscious beverage producers.

"With Tetra Vertenso production solutions, Tetra Pak further enhances its capability to offer beverage solutions that are not only tailored to each customer's products, but also to their production conditions, such as utility costs, environmental legislation and market requirements," says Sam Strömerstén.

Cuts in water consumption: The closed cooling circuit in the deaerator and closed water system for the vacuum pump reduce water consumption by up to 80%.
Cuts in energy consumption: Improved heat recovery and efficient heat transfer, through a double hot-water circuit in the tubular heat exchanger, can reduce energy consumption by up to 30%.
Cuts in product losses: Product losses reduced by up to 30%, thanks to the vessel and valve design and a product return recovery system in which the product in the return pipe is pushed back into the balance tank when it is time to stop production. The improved mix phase control, in which instrumentation measures product change-over, reduces product losses further.
Cuts in environmental impact: This is the result of significantly less energy and water consumption and reduced product losses.

Source: Tetra Pak