Tetra Pak unveils ‘smarter’ cleaning-in-place-system

Dalida Bergman, product manager, told FoodManufacture.co.uk that the system offered safe, more reliable cleaning at a lower cost. “The first benefit is uncompromising safety, which is the result of intelligence-based CIP to help assure perfect results and greater dosing accuracy consistently,” ​said Bergman.

“The second is greater efficiency, by cutting the cost of energy, water, by up to 21%, and chemicals, by up to 7%. That is good for the environment and, by allowing greater production flexibility, reduces bottlenecks.”​

The system has been designed for use in processing units and filling machines in the dairy and beverage sectors but can work with other foods too. It can act either as a master control or in slave function when cleaning other units.

Additions to the previous model include liquid tracking and queue handling.

Greater flexibility​

Liquid tracking is a patented automation structure to keep track of different liquids in the cleaning process. The modification is said to give greater flexibility and better precision for control and sorting of liquids.

Queue handling with prioritisation allows the system to handle queues and prioritise cleaning circuits. “In allowing prioritisation, Tetra Alcip brings food producers the flexibility to eliminate bottlenecks in their production,”​ according to a company statement.

Improved features, compared with the old model, are conductivity management and CIP management, said Bergman. “Conductivity management allows customers to get the highest possible accuracy on detergent concentration. That helps to assure the highest levels of food safety without unnecessary overdosing of detergents​.”

CIP management is said to offer the ability to select pre-set washing programmes, much like a modern dishwasher in the home, but on a larger scale and with more accuracy. Also operators can create special programmes to suit special needs.

The system’s flexible dosing system enables operators to control detergent concentration continuously, in line. That allows the topping-up or boosting of the detergent concentration at any time without having to stop to mix new detergent.

Right temperature​

“Tetra Alcip enables the customer to keep control of the cleaning of every item in order to secure just the right temperature, the right amount of water, the right detergent and the right amount of cleaning time to get the job done,”​ said Bergman.

The system is also said to be ‘future-proof.’ Bergman said: “Tetra Alcip is a future-proof investment; it not only offers a short payback time thanks to the significant savings in operating costs, it also offers unique opportunities to reconfigure, expand and upgrade if the food producer’s needs should change​.”

More than 1600 Tetra Alcip models are installed worldwide, according to the company.

No pricing information was unavailable.