New products and consumer experiences, as well as emerging trends, lead to a multitude of powder recipes, requiring constant cleaning. Tetra Pak® Air Jet Cleaning system for Powder, offers a departure from conventional CIP methods using liquids - by using the power of air jets. Air Jet technology cleans fast with minimal residual powder so that you can switch from one recipe to another quickly.
This system is a practical solution, not only in reducing downtime but also lowering electricity consumption compared to liquid Clean-In-Place (CIP). By eliminating the need for equipment drying, it not only streamlines operations but also increases food safety by preventing bacterial growth on moist surfaces, contributing to resource conservation and minimising product loss in production.
Before and after a cleaning cycle
See how clean the surfaces are after the use of Air Jet technology! The first photo shows a trial with a 2,000-litre batch mixer with milk powder remaining after discharge. The second and third photos shows the same mixer after a 30-minute cleaning cycle using Air Jet technology. Only a small trace of powder remained on the entire surface area: about 50 ml compared to a minimum of 70 litres of milk powder left after discharging without the Air Jet cleaning cycle.
Each nozzle contains four jets
A unique feature of the system is the pop-up nozzles that are integrated into the ceiling. They have been developed using CFD computer simulation models. Each nozzle head has four specific jets pointed in different directions in order to clean every zone of the equipment. The whole system is automated with specific sequences which can be optimised according to powder properties and customer requirements.
Quick changeovers
There are a lot of different consumer trends such as preferences for nutritional, plant-based and gluten-free ingredients. All these trends can lead to a lot of different recipes to handle and the need to clean powder equipment frequently – perhaps 2-3 times a day. Our Air Jet technology cleans fast with minimal residual powder so that you can switch hygienically from one recipe to another quickly. If allergens are an issue, talk to us and we can advise you.
Closed system
To avoid the risk of contamination where food safety is a concern, you should aim to minimise manual intervention in a sealed food system. Tetra Pak® Air Jet Cleaning system for Powder is a hygienic solution using filtered compressed air for cleaning and it can replace manual cleaning completely. With more limited intervention by operators opening the powder equipment, there will be a significant decrease in the bacterial risks and the associated microbial swab testing when restarting production.
Eliminate water & chemical use
The value of jet cleaning lies in its capacity to remove powder residue from equipment surfaces, without the need for water or physical contact with cleaning tools. The dry cleaning method eliminates the need for wastewater treatment and disposal, thereby reducing the consumption of disposable cleaning materials. Furthermore, no drying is needed after cleaning because the equipment never gets wet. This avoids the risk of microbial growth from moisture remaining on surfaces. If allergens are a concern, operators can wipe with a cloth and alcohol after a cleaning cycle with Air Jet technology.
Consumers have an insatiable appetite for new products. New trends create a lot of different powder recipes to handle and the need to clean a mixer very frequently. Tetra Pak® Air Jet Cleaning system for Powder represents a new cleaning paradigm using air jets to do the cleaning.
Jets of compressed air are used to dislodge powder particles stuck to steel surfaces. When they are airborne, the particles can be extracted from the mixer through the outlet thanks to a vacuum system. Watch the film and read the articles to see how it works.
Consumers have an insatiable appetite for new products. New trends create a lot of different powder recipes to handle and the need to clean a mixer very frequently. Tetra Pak® Air Jet Cleaning system for Powder represents a new cleaning paradigm using air jets to do the cleaning.
Jets of compressed air are used to dislodge powder particles stuck to steel surfaces. When they are airborne, the particles can be extracted from the mixer through the outlet thanks to a vacuum system. Watch the film and read the articles to see how it works.
Our centre of expertise in powder handling in France is composed of a lab and a pilot plant. Here we would be happy to test the characteristics of your powder with our innovative Air Jet technology.