Producers of fruit beverages with a solids content like pulp or fruit chunks, DosaFlex represents an affordable option for aseptic handling of solids. This has been made possible by the first-time provision of product components with an increased concentration of solids in aseptic containers – an option that used to be offered only for aromas and concentrates.
The aseptic containers can – if so desired – be pressurised with an overlay of sterile air or nitrogen. This prevents recontamination or absorption of unwanted substances such as oxygen. For continuous operation, two container connections can be used alternately. To ensure fast container change-overs, the connections are sterilised with steam before the product path is opened.
In the single-flow process, hitherto compounds with a solids content have been non-aseptically blended before the beverage processing section and then heated up together with the fruit-juice content in a UHT (ultra-high-temperature) system. The disadvantage here is that the liquid content also has to be heated up for significantly longer than necessary, with a resultant impairment of the quality.
The newly developed DosaFlex aseptic container station is also particularly suitable for beverage producers who want to try out new beverages with a solids content on test markets. The container station is integrated between the units for continuous product treatment and the filler. The finished beverage is blended using controlled dosing in a double-seat valve with an adjacent vapour seal, designed to cope with aseptic processes. For low-acid products, a vapour seal is additionally provided in the condensate drain, so as to ensure a sterile production process even with sensitive products.
Source: Krones
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