New Tetra Pak separators reduce energy consumption by 40%

Available globally, Tetra Pak Separators are used to separate milk into cream and skim milk, clarify juice by removing particles, treat whey, produce anhydrous milk fat (butter oil) and for other applications.

Tetra Pak has a pending patent for the automation of the separators that enables Encapt to work.

Less energy required

The Encapt technology lowers the atmospheric pressure around the spinning bowl using a low-pressure pump, and the system is supervised by sensors that keep air friction minimal. Less friction means less energy is required.

Combined with Tetra Pak’s AirTight design inside the bowl, where the whole system is hermetically sealed to ensure no air enters. With the inlet at the bottom, and the outlet at the top it saves the center for outlet flow, and so requires less energy.

Tetra Pak said the two technologies together make the machines the most efficient on the market.

Tetra Pak product manager, Ulrika Rehn said, “We want to help customers meet the challenge of achieving superior product quality with lower operational costs, and a lower environmental footprint. Most commonly used to separate milk or whey – the Tetra Pak Separators with Encapt technology, when paired with AirTight technology, offer incomparable energy savings. ​

“Customers can use the same line for different products, and achieve higher energy efficiencies than any other model available. In fact, they can save around 4m kWh during the machines’ lifespan.”​

Two- to three-year payback

Holger Lüers, general manager at Müritz Milch GmbH, a part of Germany’s DMK group, said, “The AirTight technology ensures energy efficient separation and a flexible flow rate to the line during a production run. Plus, the additional energy savings brought by the low-pressure technology is a real bonus.”​

Tetra Pak said producers can expect to pay back the cost of the machine in approximately two to three years.