The Slovakian dairy Euromilk now fills UHT milk for its Kukkonia brand on an aseptic stick pack machine from IMA Hassia, thereby significantly reducing the need for packaging material.
The market for aseptic stick packs continues to grow. They are extremely easy for consumers to handle and the Manufacturers benefit from lower material costs. Compared to conventional portion cups for UHT milk, they can reduce a manufacturer's packaging material requirements by up to 50 per cent - the carbon footprint is greatly improved and the impact on the environment is reduced.
In addition, stick pack packaging positively on the transport volume (50 per cent more packaging for the same pack volume compared to portion cups) and the transport weight. Another advantage is that the decorative use of the large surfaces of the display cartons and present them accordingly in the supermarket.
These are the reasons why the Slovakian dairy company decided in favour of this consumer-friendly packaging. In 2-shift operation, the S800A stick pack machine with 12 lanes 36,000 stick packs produced per hour. The machine sterilises the flat film on all sides using active packaging sterilisation (germ elimination >log 5) and transports it through the sterile area. Circular knives cut the film lengthwise - the strips are then formed into a double stick pack under sterile conditions using a special forming shoulder and sealed on three sides.
In the next step, the stick packs are filled with UHT milk using a fully cleanable and sterilisable doser. Finally, the double sticks are separated lengthwise and thus singulated. Various types of UHT milk - whole milk, semi-skimmed milk, lactose-free milk and coffee cream - are sold under the name ‚Minimilk‘. The latest product innovation is a plant-based oat drink in this variant under the name „Minioat“.
All varieties are packed in 10 ml format. The manufacturer plans to expand the range can also be extended to the 7 ml format. In order to expand its market potential, the dairy company has also initiated the process of halal certification.
The practical stick packs are an ideal solution for offices, hotels, cafés, fast food chains, petrol stations, trains, buses - especially for the takeaway business and for use on planes. They are suitable for conferences, events and all kinds of social occasions where hot drinks are served and no refrigeration facilities are available.
„We are very pleased with the consumer-friendly packaging solution that this machine offers for our UHT milk. Thanks to the new packaging, milk and cream from local farms find their way to even more people and we can fulfil our mission to ensure that good things stay good.“
Tibor Balogh, CEO of Euromilk
Minimilk is liquid milk or coffee cream of high quality, no dried milk extract. The milk and cream come from Rye Island - a region between the Danube and the Little Danube in southern Slovakia.
Source: IMA Hassia
