Package is an integral technology component of an aseptic or extended shelf life packaging operation. With the growth of aseptic bottle formats, sterilization impacts both the operating economics and the environmental footprint of the filling line. Shelf stable beverage bottle filling typically relies on either hot fill or chemical based aseptic fill technology - both of which impose limitations on productivity and package design as well as create complexity that results in system downtime and added operating costs.

• Brand owners and co-packers need to create more sustainable packaging while increasing profitability.
• Consumers respond to differentiated packaging, want more healthful product offerings, and react strongly to product safety concerns.
• Hot fill technologies limit product quality, require heavier packaging, and are energy intensive.
• Chemical based aseptic processes consume significant volumes of water, require careful monitoring for chemical residuals, and are complicated to validate and maintain.

 
Over Head View of Rotary Fill Line

Blu Sterilization technology can be applied to beverage bottles using AEB's innovative electron beam emitters. By removing the need for heat or chemicals, packaging can be lighter and production lines can be more environmentally sustainable. Electron beams are a proven sterilization technology with a long history of highly effective use for sterile packaging applications. Microbial pathogens are destroyed at high speeds as a function of energy delivered to the surface. With a long history of use, picking materials and designing packages compatible with electron beams is straightforward. The simplicity of electron beams creates predictability and reliability, allowing for high speed processing in a more compact process footprint.

Bottles and closures are sterilized in-line with AEB's low energy electron beam emitters as they are transferred into an aseptic filling environment. Leveraging AEB's compact, modular design, industry leading suppliers of filling equipment can integrate electron beam emitters directly into filling equipment, minimizing production footprint and ensuring world class filling solutions.

Bottle exteriors are sterilized using stationary e250H emitters oriented to deliver sterilizing energy to all surfaces as bottles pass by. Multiple emitters may be used to treat the full circumference of bottles passing by.

Bottle interiors are sterilized using an array of e25ITB emitters. e25ITB emitters are equipped with specially designed nozzles that fit through the finish of common beverage bottle designs, delivering sterilizing energy to the interior surfaces without overdosing exterior surfaces.

The benefits of Blu translate to greater sustainability and greater profitability.

Specifically, users can take advantage of:

• Ambient temperature processing allows for reduction of package weight.
• Chemical free sterilization eliminates need for rinse water and eliminates risk of chemicals contaminating the product.
• Simplicity of control and measurement allows for straightforward validation of new lines and a more simple process control.
• Highly efficient electron beam emitters lower energy consumption and operating costs.

Download our Bottle Sterilization Brochure