January/February 2007
CHRISTIS TODAY
Pasteurised milk is a natural source of energy and essential alimentary substances, necessary for every human organism. Through the pasteurisation process and appropriate packaging, the safety and quality of the milk is ensured right up to the point of consumption. A fundamental precondition is the appropriate storage at the right temperatures, (not exceeding 2 – 4°C).
The packaging, as well as protection of the product, may represent basic tool for the increase of sales. The selection of the type of packaging of pasteurised milk is a constant headache for all milk industries. It is a complex problem that should be analysed in depth, both in terms of the customs of local societies as well as the trends that are forming globally.
Historically, milk was distributed directly from dairy farms, which were established within cities, into bottles that the consumers provided. In the 1860-1870’s, milk started to be transferred into metal churns of 40-60 litre capacity and to be distributed door-to-door. Following the introduction of the pasteurisation process, the storing of milk in glass bottles started in 1891.
In 1906, card board box packaging was introduced for the first time yet without a satisfactory result. In 1915, the Pure-Pak company, by using paraffin wax, improved the quality of the cardboard packaging. Later, around 1940, using plastic materials, the plastic bottle of polythene was introduced. This packing (HDPE) has also been established for even bigger packagings. Polythene was also used as the lining of the cardboard packaging having as a result an improvement to the carton system.
Pure-Pak’s example was followed by another leading packaging company, Tetra-Pak, which, in 1952, introduced the first machine (Tetra-classic), for pasteurised milk packaging, whereas later, in1963, it introduced the aseptic packaging called Tetra-brik with multi-layered box.
Another low budget form of packaging in wide use is the plastic polythene bag. Around 1993-94, pasteurized milk packed in a PET bottle was introduced. Due to the advantages of this system, both in the production of the bottles and the attributes of the PET, to maintain the finest quality of the milk until its expiration date, it was widely accepted by the market. The greatest advantage of the PET is due to its minimal permeability for oxygen, allowing milk proteins and vitamins to be conserved at the finest quality level. Penetrability to light is less than 0,1% while the allowable limit internationally is below 0,2%. In the industries where the PET was initially introduced, mainly in Italy, it soon replaced cartons.
Until July 2005, our Company exclusively used carton packaging. The company, noticing consumer preferences differentiated in favour of PET, both locally and in the wider Mediterranean area, decided to introduce the PET bottle simultaneously with carton packaging. The sales of the cartons soon started to decline and, in September 2006, they were withdrawn from the market.
Great importance was attached to the size of the packaging. After a study of the Cypriot family size, the consumption of pasteurised milk per capita, as well as of various customs of Cypriot society, were commended to Management the production of bottles of 1.5 litres. This size was widely accepted and resulted in an increase in sales. The shape of the bottle, along with the label, as well as the 38 mm cap, makes it attractive to the consumer and practical to use.
The selection of the machinery for both filling and blowing machines for the plastic bottles was done by two well-known companies in the pasteurised milk industry; by Procomac in respect of the filling and by Sipa in respect of the blowing (a blow moulder).
Basic criteria for the selection of the machinery are:
- The high credibility level
- High safety level
- Low energy consumption
- High automation level
- Minimal time to change from one size to another
- Low conservation cost
- Safety assurance of the product
- Assurance of technical support by the manufacturers of the machinery
Based on the operational behaviour and efficiency of the machinery to date, it seems that we have made the right choice. The company’s objective is to serve and satisfy the Cypriot consumer and to always offer him the best.