In 1961, Tetra Pak (the world's largest liquid food processing and packaging manufacturer) first applied the carton (TetraPak) aseptic packaging technology to commercial production. Until now, the development of aseptic filling technology has been perfected, and it has become a high-end technology for the integration of high-tech, such as chemistry, physics, microbiology, and automatic control.

In 1976, the domestic canned food factory in Guangdong introduced the first aseptic filling machine of Tetra Pak. Up to now, more than 400 aseptic filling machines for paper-plastic composite packaging have been operating nationwide. In 2001, since Beijing Huiyuan Juice and Tianjin Dingxin Group took the lead in introducing five PET bottle aseptic filling production lines, 17 such production lines have been introduced nationwide. The introduction of these aseptic filling production technology and equipment has promoted the promotion and development of China's beverage industry, and made the production technology and equipment of China's beverage industry into the international advanced ranks.

Aseptic filling of liquid food belongs to the most promising packaging technology field. New aseptic packaging products, new aseptic filling machines, and new packaging materials that expand their application range are endless. Many domestic and foreign manufacturers are also in the process. Research on the development of this field.

In 1990, the large bag aseptic filling system developed by the Institute of Technology of the Ministry of Aviation marked the beginning of the independent design of aseptic packaging technology in China. Since then, Guangdong Far East Food Packaging Machinery Co., Ltd. has launched a 2500 CPH brick-type paper-plastic aseptic packaging machine. Hangzhou Zhongya and Aviation Group Technology Research Institute has successively developed an aseptic filling device for plastic film packaging of UHT sterilization milk. Since the trial operation of the 36000 BPH PET bottle aseptic filling machine jointly developed by Jiangsu Meixing Shunfeng and Guangdong Robust Group in 2001, Hefei Zhongchen, Nanjing Light Machine, Langfang Packaging Equipment Manufacturing and Lehui Group have also accelerated the pace of development. .

From the point of view of the key technologies for achieving aseptic filling, the packaging material determines the form of the aseptic filling equipment. As a complete aseptic filling equipment, it needs to include equipment for sterilization of packaging materials, delivery of sterile liquid food, filling and sealing in aseptic environment, mechanical, microbial fence and quality monitoring support system. With CIP and SIP and other equipment conditions. Difficult to recycle is the Achilles heel of paper-plastic packaging materials. If it is not recycled, the environmental pollution is self-evident. Thus, the application of PET bottles in the beverage industry has been rapidly developed, which not only has the convenience of consumption, but also enables efficient production of bottles and fillings, and recycling of materials. The key technologies for achieving aseptic filling of PET bottles are mainly the sterilization of bottles and caps, the maintenance of the sterile environment in the filling and sealing areas, and the filling machine itself should meet the requirements of aseptic filling. At present, the more innovative PET bottle filling technology combines the Italian SIPA company's resin integrated bottle manufacturing system with the aseptic filling gland system (ASIS). The ASIS aseptic filling integration concept is based on the direct connection of a specially designed SIPA ECS integrated bottle manufacturing system to PROMOMAC's aseptic filling equipment, which is produced under sterile conditions from ECS integrated equipment. The aseptic filling equipment that is immediately sent to the control room is a key feature of this concept.

At present, domestic aseptic filling equipment is mostly produced in Europe and the United States. The technology-intensive and high-priced equipment of this kind of equipment and the high growth of the future market attract domestic packaging machinery manufacturers with certain strengths to intervene. However, domestic industries, regardless of the application of aseptic filling technology or further independent innovation, need to pay attention to some problems that cannot be ignored.

In terms of technical application, first, it is necessary to gradually establish a certification system for aseptic packaging equipment. At present, some countries have issued corresponding regulatory requirements for aseptic packaging of food. For example, there are three regulations in the United States that apply to aseptic packaging. Aseptic packaging systems need to meet both FDA and USDA regulatory requirements. At present, there is no relevant regulations for aseptic packaging in China, and the factory does not pay attention to the requirements of relevant regulations when using aseptic processing and packaging technology. In order to make China's aseptic packaging industry embark on a healthy development path, it is necessary for relevant industries to familiarize with and understand the international regulations for aseptic packaging, and to use the best efforts to meet regulatory requirements. At the same time, strengthen the research and development of aseptic processing and packaging key technologies, especially sterility testing technology, and implement the testing and certification system for aseptic processing and packaging equipment. We should give full play to the role of industry guidance and supervision, achieve localization of aseptic packaging equipment and close to the international advanced level as soon as possible, and create a more scientific, reasonable and fair market environment for enterprises.

Second, it is necessary to avoid the blindness of equipment selection and process specification. There are many types of aseptic packaging equipment at home and abroad, but there are great differences in aseptic performance, and each type has a corresponding scope of application. If the equipment is selected blindly, it will cause some imported equipment to be idle for a long time and will not play its due role. Therefore, when selecting the aseptic processing and packaging technology, the equipment must be carefully selected according to the product requirements to select the most suitable equipment. At the same time, it is necessary to scientifically and rationally formulate the continuous sterilization process. The continuous sterilization of pipes used for aseptic filling differs greatly from the formulation of traditional food sterilization procedures. The sterilization value of the continuous sterilization process used by some enterprises is very low. The product quality is not fully guaranteed by the sterilization process recommended by the equipment manufacturer.

In terms of technological innovation, the development and development of aseptic filling equipment should firstly improve the design and manufacturing precision of the various components of the filling machine, improve the stability and reliability of the machine operation, and make the mechanical structure design meet the sterility. The requirements for filling do not rely on simply establishing a sterile area to accommodate the needs of the machine. At the same time, attention should be paid to the matching settings of peripheral devices, such as fungicides, sterile water, preparation of sterile air, and cleaning and disinfection of sterile rooms, all of which require real-time monitoring and verification to achieve aseptic operation of the overall system.

It can be said that the aseptic filling technology combines the essence of modern manufacturing and control technology, and has become a comprehensive embodiment of the overall technological level of the enterprise. The rapid application and promotion of advanced aseptic filling technology in the field of liquid food, if you can grasp the application development and innovation of this technology, will certainly raise the level of equipment manufacturing technology of domestic liquid food to a new height!