Tetra Pak has introduced Tetra Pak iLine™ solutions. This new generation of high-performance aseptic carton packaging solutions takes line integration and automation technology to a new level thanks to a novel process control and information management system.  

“With iLine we provide our customers with a new level of end-to-end line performance,” said Tetra Pak’s Executive Vice President, Development & Engineering, Michael Grosse. “Tetra Pak iLine solutions are a step change in line integration and automation, providing customers with reduced operational costs, increased equipment reliability and capacity.”  

The more robust and operationally efficient Tetra Pak iLine™ solutions enable customers to increase capacity and reduce operational costs by up to 40%, depending on the configuration.  

The Tetra Pak iLine portfolio includes:  
· The Tetra Pak® A3/CompactFlex iLine – A brand new system dedicated to portion packages, the Tetra A3/CompactFlex iLine is the most cost effective solution for customers producing 40 million packages per year per line. The small and flexible Tetra Pak A3/CompactFlex produces 9,000 portion packages per hour. With 19 different Tetra Brik® Aseptic and Tetra Prisma® Aseptic packages, Tetra Pak A3/CompactFlex has the largest range of portion packages on the market today.
· The Tetra Pak® A3/Flex iLine – Tetra Pak’s most flexible packaging solution, the Tetra Pak A3/Flex iLine produces 22 different Tetra Brik Aseptic and Tetra Prisma Aseptic package shapes and sizes, with an increased production capacity for 1-litre Tetra Brik Aseptic to 8,000 family packs per hour from 7,000 packs per hour.
· The Tetra Pak® A3/Speed iLine –Tetra Pak’s fastest packaging solution, the Tetra Pak A3/Speed iLine for Tetra Brik Aseptic comes in two versions, one for family packs – at 15,000 packs/hour and one for portion packs – at 24,000 packs/per hour. These high speed solutions offer lower operational cost and increased robustness.  

Refresco Menken Drinks in Bodegraven, the Netherlands, Senior Project Manager Benelux, Ton Tesser said: “Tetra Pak A3/Speed iLine enables us to increase the volume of product we produce whilst ultimately reducing our operational costs. We have been able to increase production from 7,500 packages per hour to 24,000 per hour without needing to increase operational staff.  

“The full Tetra Pak A3 iLine offering provides us with improved efficiency, functionality and line reliability. Integrated solutions also give us a more intelligent way to effectively manage our different packaging lines,” he said. Refresco, one of Europe’s largest suppliers of fruit juice was the first to install the new Tetra Pak A3/Speed iLine in the Netherlands to produce still drinks and juices in Tetra Brik Aseptic 200 ml packages.  

Tetra Pak iLine solutions represent a major evolution in automation technology. At the heart of its automation platform is the new Line Controller 30 (LC30) – a first for aseptic carton packaging. The LC30 automates the interaction among all components of the packaging line, offering enhanced line control and supervision, ease of operations in packaging line management and improved line performance, increasing flexibility.  

As Grosse explained: “Tetra Pak iLine represents a completely new approach to designing, building and validating carton packaging lines. With Tetra Pak iLine we’ve rethought the whole filling line. Instead of making incremental changes to our proven equipment, we decided to take the bold leap to a higher level of system integration and automation. Integration leads to lower operating costs, and in today’s competitive market place, that’s a key differentiator.”  

iLine is coming to Cluster Northeast Asia and Oceania in late 2009.  

For further information contact:
Anita Tomasovic
Marketing Manager – Oceania
anita.tomasovic@tetrapak.com  

www.tetrapak.com

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