SIG Beverages
Press Release sig-cp124-e
Trade Press
Added value bottling for the dairy industry
Milk Products in Plastic Bottles
The packaging of milk products in plastic is increasing. Barrier, light protection and
the right filling technology play important roles in this field of applications. Within the
SIG Beverages Division, SIG Corpoplast and SIG Asbofill combine their Know-how
to offer perfect solutions for sophisticated plastic dairy packaging.
Market view
Although UHT milk packaging is dominated by carton, the fresh milk segment has
been served by plastic packages for some years now. This makes plastic
packaging, e.g. HDPE or PET more easily acceptable for products such as flavored
milks, milk-fruit mixes, probiotic drinks etc..
Fig. 1 shows the growth rates of UHT-milk products such as UHT-milk, UHTflavored milk, UHT-cream, UHT-evaporated milk and others like soy milk etc. and
UHT - liquid dairy products (LDP). The only UHT-products packed in PET in Spain
in this picture show a growth rate of more than 100% per year from their
introduction in 2003 (4 mill. liters) until 2007 with a projected volume of 74 mill.
liters. In the same time, the whole market-segment grew by “only” 5,2% in the
reported countries. But even HDPE saw a growth rate of 14% indicating that the
plastic applications grow faster than the market average.
As shown in Fig. 2 the growth in trendy dairy drinks is booming. Mixes with juices,
vitamins or other added value additives create new functional drinks, for which PET
is a frequently selected packaging material to introduce these products.
PET emerges in this market segment as it offers the transparency of glass and
provides high gloss, making the package attractive and allows good brand
identification as well as differentiation. The packaging becomes a vehicle to convey
the intended brand messages to the end user within a highly competitive
environment.
Additionally, PET offers a better barrier than the alternative plastic packages that
can be used.
Requirements for milk products
For milk products in general requirements on product treatment, packaging and
filling technology may vary significantly. The table below shows how product
treatment and filling technology influence the microbiological shelf life of milk
products.
In the cold chain, with a typical shelf life of less than 10 days (or 21 days for ESLmilk or fermented milk like buttermilk, yoghurt or probiotic drinks), clean fill is the
right technology to obtain the required shelf life.
The low temperature in distribution and storage as well as the limited
microbiological shelf stability and the initial product treatment also imply lower
demands on the protection capability of the packaging used.
Light protection
The high light barrier protection needed for UHT milk is not required for these
applications, so that the products can be packed in transparent PET. If little light
protection is needed, the bottles can be labeled with a sleeve or white TiO 2 based
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masterbatches in various percentages can be added directly in the PET resin
during injection molding of the performs, depending on the specific need.
Compared to alternative plastic packages, PET offers an additional O 2 barrier if
required.
As taste changes in flavored milk are masked by the flavors/aromas added, also
these products can be packaged using less light barrier protection. Increased shelf
life can be obtained when increasing the requirements of the filling technology by
changing from a clean fill to an aseptic filling technology.
Low acid products outside the cold chain
With UHT milk products, stored and sold at ambient conditions, the situation
becomes more difficult. Extreme demands are imposed on product protection and
filling technology of low acid products (Fig. 4), as in a low acid environment under
ambient storage bacteria and other microorganisms can live and grow more easily.
As part of SIG Beverages, SIG Asbofill supplies aseptic filling systems of the ABF
range with an integrated aseptic capper or aluminum foil sealing unit and a capacity
of up to 12,000 bph using H2O2 vapor technology for package sterilization.
Today low acid products such as UHT white milk, milk based drinks, milk coffees,
flavored milks, yoghurt drinks, etc. are commercially filled with great success on
this filling system. One big advantage of the SIG Asbofill ABF system is its
extremely small aseptic chamber, making it easier and safer to control the air in this
critical area. This is possible by only bringing the neck part of the bottle into the
aseptic area and keeping the bottle body outside. Bottle sterilization is done by
spraying a mixture of H2O2 and hot sterile air into the bottle and through the
oxidation effect in this process, microorganisms which could be present in the
package are killed. Afterwards hot sterile air is sprayed into the bottle to eliminate
residual H2O2. With variation of parameters such as temperature, H2O2 dosing and
cycle time, log reductions of 4,5 up to 6 can be achieved.
Excellent PET packaging – sterility guaranteed
Combined know how of aseptic filling technology (SIG Asbofill) and plastic
processing technology for PET (SIG Corpoplast) guarantees a sterile high
performing PET packaging.
Where the filling method provides a good microbiological quality of the milk, the
packaging technology now must provide for an increased protection of vitamins and
flavor.
With ESL and UHT milk, light barrier against visible light becomes the main issue.
Protection against oxygen is only required to a minimal extend, as its negative
reactions are limited in the dark. Without light protection and under the influence of
light in the cold storage of a supermarket, the milk looses around half its Riboflavin
(vitamin B2) within the first twelve hours. On top of that light also effects the milk
protein and due to a chemical reaction the milk can get a metallic taste, the so
called “light impaired taste”. This taste is already discernible after two to four hours.
Work at SIG Corpoplast shows that several gradations of light protection within
PET packaging are possible, ranging from masterbatch with high percentages of
TiO2 up to a multilayer structure with a black light barrier layer between two white
layers to retain an attractive package.
A very low transmission rate can be achieved (see fig. 6), allowing UHT milk to be
adequately protected from light during its anticipated shelf life of up to four months.
Currently, the overall cost for such a solution is higher than the well established
multilayer carton pack (SIG Combibloc), so that only high value milk products could
benefit from this solution, allowing a more costly package as carrier for the brand.
Alternative plastics can reduce costs
Alternatively, other plastic materials which can be stretch blow molded, such as PP,
can be an alternative to reduce resin cost for these packages. The multilayer
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solution preventing visible light from reaching the product can be applied with PP as
well.
In the meantime, a number of applications using stretch bow molded PET bottles
for milk drinks have been realized, as well as aseptic filling of plastic packages for
this product segment.
One example is NÖM - the "Niederösterreichische Molkerei reg. Genossenschaft
mbH" (which can be roughly translated as "Lower Austrian Regional Dairy
Cooperative).
In addition to classic dairy produce, the company offers a wide range of innovative
wellness dairy products, such as the diet series marketed under the brand name
"Fasten" (= fasting), which were partly developed with the support of physicians and
nutritionists. NÖM sells these products not only in Austria but also through the
German discount chain ALDI and various other international discounters, even in
China. For a considerable time, NÖM has been filling a large part of its products in
PET bottles blow molded on a BLOMAX 10 and two BLOMAX 12 Series III from
SIG Corpoplast. "The bottles are light, can be re-closed and are easy to drink from
so they are very convenient for our customers," says Artur Hartlieb, Head of
Marketing at NÖM. He reports that the portion-sized 125 ml bottle for a quick and
convenient probiotic milk drink has been a big success among consumers. With a
weight of only 8.5 g, this is the smallest bottle ever to be produced on a SIG
Corpoplast machine and thus presented a formidable challenge to the Corpoplast
team.
The uncontested leader in the market of ice-cold coffee-drinks is Nescafé Xpress.
The ready-to-drink energizer in its Black, White, Choco, Vanilla and Latte
Macchiato varieties, originally only offered in 250ml cans, is now also available in
250ml PET bottles.
The PET solution became possible thanks to the installation of a SIG Asbofill linear
aseptic bottle filler at the Nestlé Germany plant in Biessenhofen.
The ten-lane filler with an hourly output of 12,000 PET bottles is the ideal solution
for products in the low-acid range (pH: 4.5-7) and the use of this technology permits
a distribution of these products outside the cold chain.
Thanks to the special design and its neck handling of the bottle, the line can be
converted to other bottle sizes and shapes or from PET to extrusion blown HDPE
bottles within only a few minutes.
„We are very happy with the service provided by SIG Asbofill and the performance
of the line,“ confirms André Gerber, Works Manager at Nestlé Biessenhofen.
Milchwerke Mittelelbe, in Stendal, situated between Hannover and Berlin, is also
offering a large scale of modern milk mixed drinks in PET bottles. Latte macchiato,
Cappuccino and Trink Fix supershaker, amongst others – and many more to come.
These PET bottles are also filled on a ten-lane linear aseptic filler ABF 710 from
SIG Asbofill. The products produced by Elb-Milch, are UHT treated before being
bottled and attain a minimum “best before” date of 7 months outside the cold chain.
Conclusion
If it comes to value added packaging and filling solutions for milk products in plastic
bottles, SIG Corpoplast and SIG Asbofill are the right people to talk to. “Bottles &
Shapes” comprises comprehensive 30 years of PET- know how and packaging
answers at SIG Corpoplast from different filling goods to design and bottle
production. The result is a range of standardized, modular high speed SBMmachines with highest repeatability for Light Weight bottles and other sophisticated
applications. SIG Asbofill, with their broad experience in aseptic milk filling
complete this offering with flexible, compact and efficient aseptic filling lines with
extremely small aseptic zones.
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SIG is a global supplier of packaging material, plant systems and services for the
beverage industry and a leader in selected markets.
The SIG Beverages Division is an internationally leading manufacturer of plant
systems for the production of plastic bottles (SIG Corpoplast), cans (SIG Cantec),
aseptic filling (SIG Asbofill), plasma barrier coating (SIG Plasmax) and molds and
tools (SIG Moldtec).
SIG Corpoplast is an internationally leading supplier of highly standardized and
modular designed machines for the PET industry. The machine range comprises
high speed BLOMAX Series III stretch blow molding machines from 4 to 24 blowing
stations for standard, Heat Resistant and Preferential Heating technology. With
more than 30 years of PET competence SIG Corpoplast offers complete service
and the entire know-how chain from the characteristics of the filling goods, preform,
bottle and mold design over energy saving devices to bottles with lightest possible
weights.
© SIG Corpoplast GmbH & Co. KG 2006
Reprint free, two voucher copies requested
Project related contact address (can be printed, if required)
SIG Corpoplast GmbH & Co. KG,
Meiendorfer Str. 203, 22145 Hamburg, Germany
Matthias Damm,
Tel.: +49 (0) 40 67907 350
Fax.: +49 (0) 40 67907 9350
[email protected]
SIG Plasmax GmbH, SIG Asbofill GmbH
Promeet Nag
Tel.: +49 (0) 40 67907 364
Fax.: +49 (0) 40 67907 9364
[email protected]
Contact address (for editorial queries or courtesy copies)
polymediaconsult
Dr. Michael Thielen
Hackesstr. 99
41066 Mönchengladbach
Tel.: +49 (2161) 664864
Fax: +49 (2161) 631045
[email protected]
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