Procomac supplied the second aseptic filling line to Cott Corporation, one of the world’s largest non-alcoholic beverage companies.
Cott Corporation is one of the world’s largest non-alcoholic beverage companies and the world’s largest retailer brand soft drink provider. The Company commercializes its business in over 60 countries worldwide, with its principal markets being the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Mexico. Its products include carbonated soft drinks, sparkling and flavored waters, energy drinks, sports drinks, juices, juice drinks and smoothies, ready-to-drink teas, and other non-carbonated beverages. Its production facilities are located in Canada and USA (17 facilities), UK and Europe (4 facilities), Mexico (1 facility).
A new drive
In August 2005 Cott has acquired the activities of Macaw Soft Drinks in Nelson, Lancashire. Macaw Soft Drinks is one of the biggest bottler in UK and a long-time Procomac customer. In its production facility two Procomac lines for CSD are running, as well as one line for dilute to taste products andnd a complete aseptic filling line for juice drinls, isotonic drinks and flavoured water complete with beverage preparation room. After cott's acquisition an expansion project has begun: Procomac has been chosen to supply a second aseptic filling line next to the first one, installed in 2004.
Fourth generation aseptic
The new UNIBLOC SPIN line has a production capability of 24,000 bottles/hour in different sizes: 330, 420, 500 cl. with flat caps and sport caps and it is designed for fruit juices, isotonic drinks and flavoured water production. A very short bottle size changeover time can be reached thanks to the complete bottle neck handling system and the elimination of the inlet scroll. The main bloc internal components feature a sterilization and rinsing system in SPIN version, a FILSLTAR FX volumetric electronic filler for still drinks and an AROL capper in ELESEPTIC version with brushless drives for torque application on caps. Of course the whole system is protected by a Procomac microbiological isolator, a distinctive feature of Procomac aseptic production since 1995.
Integrated process
Integrated process systems are housed on three self-supporting skids only: the first one, a UNIAQUA system, integrates sterile water production and water recovery to reduce water consumption; the second one, a UNIFLUX SPIN system, is used for utilities filtration, foam production for line S.I.P. (Sterilising in place) and aseptic tank management; the third one, a UNICLEAN SPIN system, is used for sterilizing solution production and line CIP. Considering the favourable experience with aseptic line 1, Cott has also decided to acquire a complete Procomac syrup room, which has been designed for the best functional integration with the sterilising/rinsing/filling bloc. The syrup room is based on a beverage production system UNISOLV MULTI, complete with advanced recipe and production management software, and a product pasteuriser UNITHERM T AL with tubular heat exchanger.
The packaging part
Procomac Packaging has completed the project by supplying a complete empty PET bottle conveyor system based on CONVAIR 2000 design in aseptic version with stainless steeel blowing stations and HEPA filters. Moreover, Procomac Packaging supplied all bottle, packs and pallet conveyors and an AGILIS 1000 top level infeed palletiser.
(05/29/2007)