Tetra Pak Air Jet Cleaning system for Powder

Worldwide, about 80% of the cleaning of powder mixers is done by manual dry cleaning. In the case of paddle mixers, this is a difficult and time-consuming job that can take about 90 min for one operator. Tetra Pak now has a new cleaning method using Air Jet technology that takes only 30 min each time.

The Tetra Pak Air Jet Cleaning system for Powder uses a patented technology in powder handling. Jets of compressed air are used to break the interaction between particles and stainless steel surfaces and between the particles themselves. The air jets suspend powder particles so they can be extracted from the mixer using a vacuum system.

The technology is not just intended for full cleaning, but it can also be used for flushing for a few seconds to avoid powder fouling on surfaces. For example, layers of powder can build up on the ceiling inside the mixer when running one batch after another without cleaning in between. If these residues drop down, they can affect the homogeneity of the product. In the case of infant milk formulas, it is not the base powder that sticks to the ceiling, but micro-ingredients.

Normally operators need to manually remove the layers of powder that build up. As an alternative, flushing dislodges powder stuck on surfaces and avoids the build-up of layers. As a result, the powder goes into the product instead of being lost. Flushing can be done without needing to open the mixer and without impacting the production schedule, which is an advantage.

The Air Jet technology is designed to reduce not just the time for manual cleaning but also the frequency of cleaning due to the timely use of flushing. As the technology can reduce the amount of direct intervention by operators in the mixer, it can also increase food safety.

The technology cleans fast and with minimal residual powder so users can switch hygienically from one recipe to another as quickly as possible.

The technology is a form of dry CIP (cleaning in place) that can in some cases replace wet CIP using liquids. Users can reduce the environmental impact and cleaning costs because no water, no chemicals and no detergents are needed.

Tetra Pak Air Jet Cleaning system for Powder is an option that can be fitted not just onto the Tetra Pak Powder Mixer B range of paddle mixers but onto other brands of mixers or other types of powder handling equipment.