Tetra Pak and FOSS combine to deliver industry first in-line standardization analyzer

Tetra Pak said that with continuous accurate measurement and control of protein and fat in dairy products, the new unit has been designed to help customers ensure consistent product quality and strengthen profitability by removing the uncertainty of sampling techniques.

The partnership between Tetra Pak and FOSS has resulted in a fully integrated standardization process. They say new solution utilizes automation hardware and software algorithms that react and adjust in real time, offering unique guaranteed ratio performance. It delivers key data accurately every seven seconds, enabling quicker reaction times to ensure product quality.

According to the companies, the solution offers a range of benefits for customers especially in cheese and milk powder production, including:

• Advanced performance for fat to protein ratios significantly increasing profit
• Uniform and on-specification product quality 24/7
• Elimination of uncertainty associated with manual sampling

Tetra Pak product manager, Helen Sellar, said, “Integrating our propriety software algorithm and the FOSS analyser in the new Tetra Pak Standardization units with continuous protein control results in the industry’s most advanced and optimal solution for in-line measurement and control. With process variation minimised and profitability boosted, the solution is expected to pay for itself in two to four years.”​

Return on investment is delivered through efficiency gains, product loss reduction and reduced downtime in approximately two to four years.

Tests in Finland

Ib Haunstrup, product manager, FOSS said, “A key benefit of the integration of FOSS analytic software within the new Tetra Pak Standardization units with continuous protein control is the ability to test a number of components directly, eliminating the need for manual testing and enabling producers to run at very narrow margins between specified points. This unique technology supports producers to respond to changing market trends, such as increased demand for protein-enriched products, while also securing efficiency and product quality.”​

Tetra Pak Standardization units with continuous protein control are currently being tested with Finnish dairy cooperative Valio.

Raimo Vehkoja, production manager, Valio, said, “The challenge we faced was that the existing line was coming to the end of its life cycle and maintenance costs were high. This new investment gave us more accurate fat to protein ratio, giving us better use of raw materials and constant product quality. It also drastically reduces maintenance costs.”​

The new unit is available in Australia, New Zealand, US, Canada, Germany, Holland, France, UK, Denmark, Sweden and Poland and will roll out to more markets in the next year.