French technology supplier Claranor says that its Ventris pulsed light system can effectively decontaminate closures and materials for extended shelf-life (ESL) and even meet hygiene levels for aseptic filling.
"For ESL products, it gives better decontamination than existing ultra-violet (UV) and infra-red systems, and for aseptic lines we have results on aluminium film which show more than a five log reduction," says sales and marketing director Christophe Riedel. It could, he claims, replace current systems using hydrogen peroxide as a sterilising medium.
Nestlé is using Ventris at its Contrex site in France on closures for bottled waters exported to the US, and in Saudi Arabia, where contamination levels on supplied packaging can be high.
The light is pulsed in high-energy short flashes. "This makes it hugely more efficient than traditional, constant UV technologies," says Riedel. Foils, trays and thermoforming films can all benefit, he claims.
A Claranor system is currently being trialled on foods at Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association (see Food Manufacture, September 2007, p7).