About the Project
A dairy facility, where pasteurized milk is cooled to +5 °C and packed into bags, faced stricter hygiene demands as production volumes increased. The plant had an inline UVL Aqua 40 system already installed, but higher disinfection performance was needed for the packaging stage. Space constraints on the line made bulky installations impossible, and maintaining product temperature was essential.
Challenges
The client’s requirements were clear:
- Improve UV disinfection performance without altering the existing conveyor layout.
- Prevent even minor heating of the milk.
- Ensure ultraviolet disinfection of packaging film from both sides before sealing.
- Deliver equipment quickly and ready for installation.
Solution: Upgrading UV Performance
Our engineers enhanced the Aqua 40 by replacing its standard emitter with a more powerful amalgam UV lamp UVL 15115 (120 W). This upgrade increased ultraviolet intensity without modifying the housing. The lamp operates efficiently between +5 °C and +40 °C and does not warm the product. Each lamp was paired with an electronic ballast tailored to its parameters.
Two upgraded units were supplied for pilot testing, which confirmed reduced microbial load without affecting milk quality or properties.
Packaging Film Sterilization
To disinfect the roll film, two VOZUF 810 mm units were installed—one above and one below the line—to provide dual-sided exposure. A quartz sleeve plate beneath the film allowed UV light to pass through while supporting the film.
Technical Specifications
- UVL 15115 Amalgam Lamp – 120 W power, 40 W UV output, lifespan: 16,000 h.
- Electronic Ballast L-220-1x120-2201-15 – 120 W peak power, 1.2 A current, 220/230 V, 50/60 Hz.
- VOZUF 810 mm UV Unit – 95 W lamp power, up to 25 W UV output, 253.7 nm spectrum, size 810×118×140 mm, working area up to 0.5 m.
Results
The upgrade was implemented without stopping production. The milk maintained its temperature, and the packaging film received germicidal UV exposure from both sides, ensuring greater hygienic safety. Testing showed a significant reduction in bacterial contamination. The client decided to scale up to a 10-lamp system for sequential product treatment. All deliveries arrived complete and on time, with operating recommendations and inspection guidelines.
