Demands for fresh, natural beverages is giving rise to cold aseptic filling equipment. Meanwhile the rise in the number of SKUs is prompting OEMs to integrate processes to meet diverse demands.

To keep pace with more SKUs and the need to handle diverse beverages in diverse packaging with high hygienic standards, equipment suppliers are adapting to trends and “filling a need” in a changing beverage market.

The new machine supports the company’s goal to provide a lighter life for both liquid food producers and consumers worldwide.

As consumer preferences lean toward environmentally friendly products, brand owners and packaging material suppliers must adapt and manufacture beverages that utilize recyclable materials.

There are different ways to fill a beverage product into its respective packaging. Aseptic and retort are two of the main processes.

Among the ways consumers assess sustainability is through the packaging that brand owners utilize. According to packaging material suppliers, sustainable benefits from packaging allow brand owners to showcase their environmentally friendly ethos.

In its March report titled “Pouches,” Cleveland-based The Freedonia Group indicates that the U.S. pouch market will grow 4.4 percent a year through 2020 to $10.1 billion, primarily driven by the introduction of pouches in new markets and the integration of high-value features, such as re-sealable closures and spouts, in more mature markets.

A supplier of liquid rotary filling systems, Fogg Co. introduced its carbonated filler machine that features double pre-evacuation with intermediate carbon dioxide purging (flushing) before filling. The combination of an analogue probe, for monitoring the filling tank level, and a modulating valve ensures gentle handling of the product and better control of undesired foaming, the company says.