KRONES first realizes ultra-high temperature sterilization of PET bottled milk

Since June 2004, an innovative technology has been added to the dairy industry. The Centrale del Latte di Brescia SpA milk company based in Brescia, a city in northern Italy, produced the world's first PET bottled UHT fresh milk with a shelf life of 90 days.

The new aseptic filling technology was provided by KRONES, a global market leader in beverage filling and packaging technology, in Neutraubling, Germany. A compact PET separation aseptic filling line can reach a filling volume of 12,000 bottles per hour on a small site. The 0.5-litre and 1-litre PET bottles are produced by the KRONES Contiform S high-stretch blow molding machine. The aseptic filling system was installed and put into operation in January 2004 and was successfully certified by a third-party testing laboratory in May.

In order to obtain a longer shelf-life of milk, PET bottles have gradually replaced carton packaging. The Centrale del Latte di Brescia milk company has conducted extensive research into the characteristics of PET bottles and the possible interaction between PET bottles and milk. One of the results of these studies was that this milk company chose a shrink sleeve label made of polyester film with a metal coating. It not only has very high opacity and oxygen permeability, but also has a strong The visual appearance of the effect - to remind consumers of different milk varieties - red (full fat milk), blue (low fat milk), green (skimmed milk).