The specialist for industrial high-tech microwave and radio frequency applications SAIREM, based in Lyon, France, will be demonstrating at Interpack 2023 how environmentally friendly and reliable pasteurisation and decontamination of packaged food is possible. Thanks to sophisticated microwave (MW) and radio frequency (RF) technology, highly efficient processes in pasteurisation and decontamination are guaranteed and food safety is assured. SAIREM’s applications stand for particularly gentle and at the same time reliable processes, first-class quality as well as optimally extended shelf life of the products.
Pasteurisation: fast, gentle, energy-saving
With SAIREM’s state-of-the-art modular systems, the required degree of pasteurisation for food products can be achieved in just a few minutes. For this purpose, a new generation of pasteurisation tunnels was specially developed in cooperation with the French institute CTCPA. In these systems, the pasteurisation process can be carried out at a maximum temperature of 95 to 100 °C, depending on the product selection and the desired pasteurisation stage. The new tunnel systems from SAIREM enable gentle pasteurisation of ready meals and menu components in a wide variety of packaging materials such as plastic, glass, paper as well as thermoformed packaging or pouches – also in different sizes. All in all, the microwave pasteurisation systems include tunnels for ready meals as well as inline heaters for pumpable products such as different fillings and jams. The compact systems operate 100 % electrically and achieve significant energy savings compared to conventional processes.
Decontamination: effective and gentle heat treatment for packed or loose products with low water content
The decontamination of cereals, grains, plants, powders and ingredients with MW and RF technology reliably inactivates salmonella and drastically reduces mould, ensuring a longer shelf life. SAIREM’s systems provide uniform heating that can be precisely controlled. The temperature, the intensity of the MW or RF field and the process duration are individually adjusted to the product and the germs to be eliminated. Decontamination takes place in a reproducible and fully traceable process that is approved by most international organic certification bodies. Users can choose between different batch or tunnel solutions for SAIREM’s systems. The fully automated process can be easily integrated into existing lines, being fully Industry 4.0 compatible.
Volumetric heating technology – uniform and effective
SAIREM’s MW and RF technology provides volumetric heating and is therefore particularly gentle: in contrast to conventional processes, which heat a product by conduction from the outside to the inside, here the thermal process takes place homogeneously. Nevertheless, the required degree of pasteurisation or reliable decontamination can be achieved within the shortest treatment time. This protects the food, preserves freshness and quality, and maintains the organoleptic properties. The main difference between MW and RF technology is the wavelength, which affects the energy transferred to the product which is to be treated. RF technology with a longer wavelength can particularly be used effectively for products with regular size and shape and is well suited for more delicate products due to slower heating. MW technology is excellent for treating products with an irregular shape and is highly efficient for pasteurising liquid products, among other things.
“SAIREM has extensive experience in MW and RF technologies and uses the advantages of each to tailor the process to the individual product. Both processes equally preserve the colour, texture and taste of the treated food products and thus stand for first-class quality and long shelf life”, explains Christina Frohm Kramer, Business Development Manager – Food, at SAIREM.
SAIREM at Interpack 2023 in Düsseldorf from 4 to 10 May 2023 in hall 5 stand E26.
