The most advanced technology to the problem of filling sensitive beverages in PET bottles is aseptic filling. A modern aseptic bottling line for sensitive beverages is essentially composed of:

• a container sterilization system;
• a caps sterilization system;
• a filling machine capable of filling and capping containers in aseptic conditions;
• an environmental contamination control system;
• a series of process systems that feeds the system with necessary fluids (nitrogen, air, water) at optimum conditions for proper functioning.

The elimination of the clean room used in the past for environmental contamination control purposes and the simplification of the line running procedures have globally boosted the market for aseptic lines worldwide.

Many bottlers have invested in this sector to produce premium segment beverages - innovative drinks in appealing containers. The technological evolution in the last few years has permitted the supply of more compact and reliable lines that guarantee maximum versatility: it is now common to treat a wide variety of containers on the same line without having to perform long format changeovers.

A modern aseptic line can fill at high speeds a vast array of products, both still and sparkling beverages. Although it represents a major investment as compared to the cost of a hot fill line, an aseptic line permits the use of PET containers which are lighter as compared to those used by a hot fill line.

This leads to a saving that speeds up the investment returns. Moreover the aseptic technology permits the filling of personalised bottles that have more appeal upon the end customer.

With these capabilities, aseptic technology will become the main technology used for filling sensitive products in the next few years, allowing production of high quality beverages packaged in appealing containers, in a variety of flavours, in line with market demand that is continuously changing.