Milk the benefits of new asceptic processing line technology
Tetra Pak's Tetra Lactenso Aseptic with OneStep technology processing line incorporates UHT white milk production within a single, high-throughput process.
OneStep technology eliminates the need for pasteurisation pre-treatment and intermediate storage of raw milk. In one unbroken step, raw milk is preheated, clarified, separated, standardised and homogenised before undergoing UHT treatment and regenerative cooling. It is then transferred to aseptic buffer tanks.
Tetra Pak says this approach shortens processing time from two days to a few hours and cuts operating costs by up to 50%.
In essence, the innovation of this technology is that it combines heat treatment, separation and standardisation into a single step, which significantly simplifies and accelerates production.
In addition to shortening the time it takes to process raw milk, it also incorporates aseptic buffering. This enables completely automated and continuous UHT operations, with fewer process steps and smaller hold-up volumes in the line.
"The whole process is far more efficient than conventional solutions, delivering significant operating cost savings and greatly reducing environmental impact," says Bengt Eliasson, manager, Tetra Pak Dairy Aseptic Solutions. "Capital costs are also lower because a lot less equipment and floor space are needed when using OneStep."
Tetra Lactenso Aseptic with OneStep technology is claimed to reduce energy consumption by more than 40%, effluent load by up to 40% and water consumption by as much as 60%. These savings are estimated to reduce the carbon footprint of the production process by around 40%. Furthermore, the streamlined process cuts product loss by up to 33% compared with conventional UHT solutions.
