The 1970s brought the introduction of automated industrial controls to the consumer packaged goods manufacturing industry. As the technology advanced, the long-established method of generating manual paper-based process records continued on. Commercial sterilization technology began leaping forward in the 1980s with the introduction of the programmable logic controller (PLC) to the food and beverage manufacturing […]
General Knowledge
Retort Temperature Distribution and Container Heat Penetration Testing
The thermal process known as commercial sterilization consists of the application of a lethal amount of high heat to effectively kill spoilage and pathogenic organisms such as bacteria and molds. One of the most resilient of these organisms is Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The non-vegetative spore of this particular pathogen is very resistant to high heat. […]
Retort Agitation Methods, Applications and Benefits
One of the benefits of retort processing, also known as commercial sterilization, is that it provides a food or beverage manufacturer the ability to produce a product that is “shelf stable” at room temperature for extended periods of time. The process usually occurs at temperatures ranging from 240°F/115°C to 270°F/132°C. These temperatures exceed that of […]
Which Type of Retorting System Is Best Suited for Your Containers and Products?
Shelf stable food packaging has significantly evolved during the past 20 years, from the standard metal can and glass jar, to value-added polymeric and composite pouches, bowls, cups, and trays. Because of this progression, the ordinary saturated steam or static water immersion retort has been found to be inadequate for delivering an optimum thermal process […]
Commercial Sterilization: What Type, Size, and How Many Retorts Do I Need?
So you have, or want to introduce, a containerized shelf-stable product to the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) market. Batch retort solutions offer the greatest range of technology and flexibility versus any other type of commercial sterilization process solution. Here are some key considerations to guide you through choosing the appropriate batch retort process for your commercial […]