Flexible HPP System Processes Both Bulk and Packaged Products

As consumers put more emphasis on health, demanding more natural, fresh foods, interest is growing in high pressure processing (HPP) and what it can do to extend the shelf lives of natural products. In recent years, innovative bulk HPP systems have helped to overcome the limitation of products relying solely on plastic packaging. At PACK EXPO Las Vegas, JBT Avure introduced its FlexiBulk system, which can HPP both bulk and individually packaged simultaneously, improving the speed and packing efficiency of the process in addition to providing flexibility in packaging options.

The FlexiBulk can fill bags in baskets while other bags are being pressed and unfilled.Photo courtesy of JBT AvureJBT Avure has been working not only on ways to automate the process, but also to improve pack efficiency, says Sam Mudgal, global product line manager for JBT Avure. “Pack efficiency is typically 40, 50, 60% max—there’s so much wasted space,” he says. “Now it’s 95%, so we can actually double the throughput.”

At JBT Avure’s booth at PACK EXPO in September, Mike Stokes talked about how Pressed Juicery was scheduled to install its first HPP system from JBT Avure Oct. 1. The cold pressed juice maker had been waiting for HPP to become more package-agnostic, according to Stokes, chief supply chain officer for Pressed Juicery. “Our consumers are all about sustainability,” he says, noting that they wanted to be able to provide cold pressed juices in glass, aluminum, and carton containers, as well as plastic. “Not that plastic is not recyclable, but consumers don’t recycle.”

Learn how to implement HPP technology into your operations with ProFood World's High Pressure Processing Best Practices.