It all began with the 3D model but things started getting real when the container prototype was delivered to DIL. After that, the first pieces of equipment were placed in the mobile container, and piece by piece, the „box“ of Food Circle 1 began to take shape!

Before and after

Though there are still a few missing pieces, the progress is evident:
Move the slider to compare the before and after

Piece by piece

Meanwhile, DIL has been updating us on the various steps involved in filling the container. Here are some images from when the Liquid Handling System (LHS) was installed:

What will the container look like?

Fruits/Vegetables are manually fed into the washing elevator (01) where they are being washed and transported directly to the funnel of a multicut unit (02). In the Multicut apples are being crushed in the presence of nitrogen to reduce the contact with oxygen, and the mash is being transported to a vacuum spiral filter press (03). In the spiral filter press, the juice is being extracted under vacuum and via vacuum pump transported to a product buffer tank (04). After being stored at the appropriate temperature for the desired time, it is pre-heated in Liquid Handling System (LHS) (06) to the desired temperature suitable for PEF treatment and then pumped into the PEF machine (05). Immediately after the PEF preservation step, the juice is cooled down to the desired temperature to reduce the thermal load and prevent the loss of thermally sensitive compounds (usually below 10 °C). Cooled juice ends up in a second buffer tank (08), where it can be pumped to filling unit (07), suitable for two options: BAG-in-BOX (an airtight container for transporting and storing liquids, the container consists of a plastic bag in a cardboard box) or glass bottles. From the Control panel (09) electricity is distributed to machines and the optimal functioning of the juice extraction process is controlled.

What’s next?

By the end of January 2022, the container is expected to be completed and the demonstration of the mobile unit will be happening later at KOB.

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