Canned Beans Sterilization Retort Becomes Core Quality Assurance Equipment

A cutting-edge steam sterilization retort has emerged, setting new standards for food packaging sterilization with its advanced technology. This innovative equipment is designed to ensure efficient and reliable sterilization processes, capable of meeting diverse sterilization requirements across various food packaging types in multiple industries. The retort operates safely and simply: just place the products inside the chamber and close the door secured by a five-fold safety interlock system. Throughout the sterilization cycle, the door remains mechanically locked, ensuring the highest level of safety. The sterilization program is fully automated using a microprocessor-based PLC controller with preset recipes. Its uniqueness lies in the innovative method of directly heating food packaging with steam, eliminating the need for other intermediate heating media such as water from spray systems. A powerful fan drives steam circulation within the retort, ensuring uniform steam distribution. This forced convection not only enhances steam uniformity but also accelerates heat exchange between steam and food packaging, thereby optimizing sterilization efficiency.

 Pressure control is another core feature of this equipment. Compressed gas is automatically introduced or vented through valves to precisely regulate the retort pressure according to programmed settings. Thanks to the mixed sterilization technology combining steam and gas, the pressure inside the retort can be independently controlled from temperature. This allows flexible pressure parameter adjustments based on different product packaging characteristics, significantly expanding its application scope—capable of handling various packaging formats such as three-piece cans, two-piece cans, flexible pouches, glass bottles, and plastic containers.

 At its core, this sterilization retort innovatively integrates a fan system on the foundation of traditional steam sterilization, enabling direct contact and forced convection between the heating medium and packaged food. It permits the presence of gas inside the retort while decoupling pressure control from temperature regulation. Additionally, the equipment can be programmed with multi-stage cycles to accommodate different packaging requirements for various products.

 This versatile equipment excels in multiple fields:

• Dairy products : Tinplate cans, plastic bottles/cups, flexible pouches

• Fruits & vegetables (Agaricus campestris/vegetables/legumes) : Tinplate cans, flexible pouches, Tetra Brik

• Meat & poultry products : Tinplate cans, aluminum cans, flexible pouches

• Aquatic & seafood : Tinplate cans, aluminum cans, flexible pouches

• Infant food : Tinplate cans, flexible pouches

• Ready-to-eat meals : Sauces in pouches, rice in pouches, plastic trays, aluminum foil trays

• Pet food : Tinplate cans, aluminum trays, plastic trays, flexible pouches, Tetra Brik  With its advanced technology and broad applicability, this new steam sterilization retort is poised to play a pivotal role in ensuring food safety and extending the shelf life of various food products.