At-line FT-NIR spectrometer
The NIRMaster instrument is the first stand-alone FT-NIR-spectrometer with hygienic design and is fully “at-line” compatible in the production environment of food and feed industries. The cleaning of the system and its operation are extremely simple and safe, and comply with all applicable hygiene requirements. The system is available in two versions: the first a food-certified polymer housing and the other with a stainless steel enclosure. With their wide range of pre-calibration settings the NIRMaster units are truly plug-and-play and ready for immediate implementation. Their unique polarization interferometer provides the systems with a level of robustness that is typically not achievable by other interferometer designs; the high sensitivity assures reliable and accurate results even in harsh environments. The internal laser reference eliminates the need of frequent, expensive instrument standardization. Globally operating NIR networks with multi-site NIRMaster installations are supported by the NIRAnywhere software solution, providing safe and fast remote calibration updates and/or data backups, no matter the location of the instrument.

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Filler
Filler
The Asep-Tec filler is designed to fill, under aseptic conditions, fruit juices and dairy products. For many of these products the shelf life is not only limited to microbiological activity but also to chemical deterioration such as oxidation. For these products the shelf life can be increased by reducing the oxygen level in the filled and sealed bottle. The total process of product storage, bottle and cap treatment, as well as controlling the internal conditions in the aseptic zone of the filler, require special attention in order to reduce the oxygen level in the filled and sealed bottle. Stork has designed several modules and systems for this purpose with their ‘Modified Atmospheric Filling system’ (MAF).

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Food manufacturers need to ensure that the cleanliness of their production lines is maintained to the highest standard to avoid contamination of product. Aseptic drives are carefully designed for applications where regular washdowns are required to maintain a clean environment. The motor is designed so that a fan and cooling ribs are not required, thereby allowing for a completely smooth outer casing with a non-drive end which is sealed. This eliminates any dirt traps on the motor casing and also prevents re-infection of the local environment caused by air movement from a cooling fan. The design also includes a very high level of ingress protection, up to IP69K, which is a special designation for washdown applications involving high pressure, high temperature water. In addition, the aseptic drive is painted using an acid and alkali resistant formula, which can withstand chemicals with a pH range of 2 – 12. As a result the new drive system can withstand the cleansing solutions and disinfectants that are commonly used within the food industry without affecting its performance. A combination of aseptic motor/gearbox packages has been developed with variable frequency drives (VFDs) to enable a very efficient package to be installed. The majority of the drives use 0.75kW motors, with some smaller 0.55kW units and most of these, nearly 80%, are coupled to the BK20 hollow shaft bevel gearboxes. When installing a large number of motors onto a production line, it is important to maintain high energy efficiency so that the return on investment can be minimized. All of the aseptic motors from Bauer are rated IE3 energy efficiency class and when combined with the VFD they can deliver optimum energy consumption and running costs. By designing a system with a large number of common components, the engineers were also able to minimize the spare parts inventory while still ensuring the most energy efficient and reliable design. In addition to this, the motor itself is equipped with thermistors and class F insulation, which makes it suitable for control by VFD and the thermistor connections are combined with the motor connections in a stainless steel, round connector which allows quick and simple motor connection while still maintaining the hygienic aspect of the design.
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Four-ply aseptic bags
The new four-ply aseptic bag solves the issue of flex cracking, a very frequent problem causing de-lamination, de-metallisation and eventually breaking the bag. This happens frequently and can jeopardise product preservation, caused by the continuous movement of the bag content during handling and transport, which leads to erosion of the bag structure. The use of superior resin recipes and the addition of a fourth inner ply, has created an aseptic bag with an extremely flexible structure, which maintains the usual barrier and mechanical properties, but performs exceptionally well against flex cracking. The new 22OI bag is available in the standard and extra-high barrier (with aluminium foil) versions and it is particularly suitable for low-viscosity products such as citrus fruit concentrates, juices, apple juice, purees and diced tomato.
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NutraT line
Extracting natural ingredients from the Mediterranean diet is the expertise of Nutrafur S.A. now a member of the Frutarom group. Nutrafur S.A., Alcantarilla, Murcia, Spain, developed NutraT, a line of ready-to-use soluble powder formulas that dissolve easily in water, soft drinks and dairy products. Once the powders dissolve, the beverage stays clear, without turbidity, and deliverS fresh fl avour. The NutraT line offers water and soft drink manufacturers the ability to fortify their products with exceptional natural extracts that typically are not watersoluble. This opens new opportunities to develop products with new flavours that include ingredients delivering the essence of a healthy Mediterranean diet. OliveT contains all the beneficial compounds from the olive, and provides more than 25% olive polyphenol content. Just 5 g/250 ml liquid provides 43-45 mg of olive polyphenols. Recent studies demonstrated that these olive extracts can help regulate blood pressure and support blood circulation. CynaxT is an exotic formulation that brings the health benefits of artichokes, with a 5% polyphenol content. Recent studies demonstrated that artichokes can help regulate serum cholesterol levels, thanks to the plant’s choleretic and diuretic properties. A single 5 g/250 ml liquid shot of CynaxT mixed with water or another beverage provides 25 mg of polyphenols and supports renal water elimination and healthy blood circulation. RosT has a high-phenolic compound content with a significant antioxidant capacity and preserves its pleasant taste. Products fortified with RosT allow beverage producers to position their product as a “beauty from within” drink or as a “better sleep” aid. RosT’s 5 g/250 ml provide 50 mg polyphenols. CitroT is a soluble extract with a high bioflavonoid content. Citrus bioflavonoids are known to provide a protective effect on the cardiovascular system. A concentration of 5 g/250 ml liquid provides 340 mg of citrus bioflavonoids. All four mixes are produced using sustainable sources, are heat stable at up to 70°C, and both Kosher and Halal certified. NutraT can be incorporated into a food or beverage matrix, such as water, fruit juice, yoghurt, kefir or milk, or as a final product in powder sticks, sachets or inside of a powder-dispensing bottle cap for preparing enhanced beverages immediately before use.
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