Krones Contiform AseptBloc preform decontamination system

The Krones Contiform AseptBloc decontaminates preforms, rather than finished bottles. It consists of a sterile blow-moulder combined with filler and closer, with integrated process technology for aseptic applications.

While this approach is unusual, it is effective, according to the company.

Immediately after heat-up, the preforms are sent to the sterile zone to be treated with gaseous hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Preforms feature a more even shape and surface than bottles, while also being smaller. According to the company, this means the system reduces both the amount of work and the costs involved, resulting in less time, less energy and less sterilisation medium being needed for preform treatment.

The product is suitable for sensitive products like juice, iced tea, tea, energy drinks, beverages with a particle content, UHT milk and milk-based mixed drinks. 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 is claimed to cut water consumption while upgrading microbiological safety. Preform decontamination reportedly does not cause shrinkage of the kind encountered during bottle decontamination.

The product is able to cope with very lightweight PET containers and can achieve outputs of up to 48,000 containers/h. It is a simple, basic structure which does not required any additional devices such as hygiene centres or sterile water UHT units, and uses one control system for all aseptic processes, making it easy to service.