‘Drinks carton first’ uses electrons for hygiene

In what is being claimed to be a first for the beverage carton industry, Tetra Pak has launched a filling machine that uses electron beams, rather than hydrogen peroxide, to sterilise packaging material. The Tetra Pak E3 is said to offer a range of benefits to its users - not least the potential to run up to 40,000 portion packs an hour.

Compared with the existing Tetra Pak A3/Speed platform, the E3 provides lower operational cost, improved and increased flexibility.

At the heart of the machine is the eBeam sterilisation technology that was developed by Tetra Pak in collaboration with Comet, a specialist in high-voltage and high-vacuum technology. It works by focusing a controlled beam of electrons onto the surface of packaging material as it runs through the filling machine.

Charles Brand, executive vice president, product management and commercial operations, at Tetra Pak says: "Tetra Pak E3 not only delivers significant cost and environmental benefits to our customers, it also marks the start of a new era in the world of carton packaging.

Contact: Tetra Pak