Tetra Pak launches arsenal of processing gear

14-Dec-2013 - Last updated on 14-Dec-2013 at 15:39 GMT

The Tetra Albatch 1 processing tank from Tetra Pak is designed for production of fruit preparations.

Tetra Pak has introduced equipment geared toward processing soups, sauces, fruit and infant foods.

Mats Gustafsson, product manager for Tetra Pak, discussed the recently released equipment with FoodProductionDaily, explaining each unit's applications and features.

Fruit processing tank

The Tetra Albatch 1 tank is designed for fruit preparation production and pre-treatment of foods before they are transferred to a continuous production process. The helix-shaped agitator with scraping blades reportedly ensures gentle treatment of the product, maintaining high particle integrity and even distribution.

Gustafsson explained that the Tetra Albatch 1 is designed as an entry-level unit.

“Tetra Albatch 1 provides the main benefits of the full Tetra Albatch, for customers who do not need all of the customization and functionality provided by the full Tetra Albatch," he said.

High-hygiene tank

This tank helps is geared toward processing high-acid products, including fruit preparations. The unit is intended to complement Tetra Pak’s other batch-line equipment.

“High standards of product quality and safety are maintained inside the tank, with sterile air flowing over the product to prevent contamination, separate inlets and outlets to minimize product retention time, and slow paddle-type agitation to protect particle integrity and ensure even distribution,” Gustafsson said.

Additionally, the tank is designed to prevent contaminants from entering the unit, and the food.

“The tanks also maintain hygienic conditions through the use of sterile filtered air flowing over the product surface preventing microorganism from entering the tank,” he said.

Infant formula processing

Tetra Vertico has a high pressure rating for high-capacity production of very viscous foods.

“Tetra Vertico is extremely good for particle processing,” Gustafsson told FPD.

Also, Tetra Therm for Infant Formula offers long production time for processing high-total-solids foods, with a low heat load on the product. Gustaffson explained that Tetra Therm for Infant Formula, which uses the company’s VTIS steam injection technology, is engineered to handle high total solid compositions before entering the dryer.

“It has a double heating system which allows uninterrupted running times to keep up with the dryer production time,” he said.

The unit also puts product through a final UHT treatment, Gustafsson said.

“This further reduces the number of microorganisms,” he said. “This is necessary for quality reasons and also to meet demands from authorities.”