The Contiform AseptBloc unveiled at the drinktec already decontaminates the preforms, not the finished bottles. It consists of a sterile blow-moulder combined with filler and closer, with integrated process technology for aseptic applications. This approach is quite unusual, but extremely effective.
Immediately after heat-up, the preforms are sent to the sterile zone, so as to treat them with gaseous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Preforms feature a more even shape and surface than bottles, while also being much, much smaller. This means the system substantially reduces both the amount of work and the costs involved. Less time, less energy and less sterilisation medium are needed for preform treatment.
A sterile chain, from the preform to the finished product
In the Contiform AseptBloc, sensitive products like juice, ice tea, tea, energy drinks, beverages with a particle content, UHT milk or milk-based mixed drinks are optimally treated from beginning to end. Directly downstream of the oven, the preforms enter a hermetically sealed sterile zone, which they do not leave until they have been transformed into fully blow-moulded, aseptically filled and capped bottles.
The system cuts water consumption while simultaneously upgrading microbiological safety. Preform decontamination does not cause any shrinkage of the kind encountered during bottle decontamination. This is why the Contiform AseptBloc is also able to cope effortlessly with extremely lightweight PET containers.
The Contiform AseptBloc achieves outputs of up to 48,000 containers an hour with a simple basic structure: it does not need any additional devices, such as a hygiene centre or a sterile-water UHT unit, and utilises just one control system for all aseptic processes, which makes it easy to service and impervious to malfunctions.
Photo Krones AG:
The Contiform AseptBloc already decontaminates the preforms, not the finished bottles.
