High productivity, automation and a guaranteed aseptic filling process: Sacmi form-fill-seal (FFS) technology covers another segment in a market and an industry considered strategic for the future of beverage.

Over 80 aseptic machines supplied worldwide with characteristics from ultrahigh productivity to innovative sterilisation system that make them one of the most appealing drink and dairy product packaging solution. This is, in short, Sacmi’s aseptic FFS technology, now chosen by an industry giant (a joint venture between a major American bottler and an international vending machine provider) to produce, fill and package its range of drink pods. The “pod” market has aroused great interest in recent years following a change in consumer habits and the market entry of major international players in the sector.

The supplied solution - a 30-cavity Miniasepack - has an hourly output rate in the order of 50,400 pieces from 15 to 50 ml in PS-EVOH-PE, with thickness between 0.8 and 1.2 mm and protected with Alu-PET film.

In just one single process the machine carries out thermoforming of the pod, aseptic filling and pack closure. Rational and streamlined, the production process stands out on account of automation, very high speeds and absolutely guaranteed product integrity (in this case, UHT-sterilised beverage concentrates).

This solution offers numerous advantages of great appeal to customers, such as the special sterilisation system incorporated in the FFS, which acts at various levels of the manufacturing cycle. Above all, this means super-sterilisation of the materials the pod is made up of by way of hydrogen peroxide misting; then, the entire pack forming, filling and sealing process takes place in a sterile environment, the only residue being - after heating - the water vapour.