Tetra Pak E3 filling machine with electron beam sterilisation

Tetra Pak has launched the Tetra Pak E3, a filling machine that uses electron beams, not hydrogen peroxide, to sterilise packaging material.

The eBeam sterilisation technology works by focusing a controlled beam of electrons onto the surface of packaging material as it runs through the filling machine, killing any bacteria or microorganism present.

The use of eBeam removes a physical limitation to carton packaging speed: the hydrogen peroxide sterilisation process. With eBeam, speeds of up to 40,000 portion packs/h, or 11 packs every second, can be achieved. According to the company, this increased capacity can save beverage manufacturers as much as 20% in their operational costs.

The replacement of hydrogen peroxide in packaging material sterilisation improves environmental performance, making water recycling easier, lowering energy consumption and cutting waste.

The modular design of the platform also offers increased production flexibility, enabling manufactures to switch between pasteurised and extended shelf life (ESL) production orders on the same filling machine.