Allpax Introduces Innovative Waste-Steam Recovery System for Retorts
Covington, LA - Allpax Products, powered by Pro Mach, is now offering a waste-steam recovery system for retorts that is designed to lower energy costs, reduce consumption of water, and improve the overall sustainability of the facility. This new system is suitable for both new installations and as a retrofit solution.
In every retort operation the FDA requires retorts to be purged of residual atmosphere before the shelf-stable process begins. In the "come-up vent-open" process, steam is flushed through the retort and vented out of the facility for a specified period of time. The Allpax waste-heat recovery system captures the "come-up vent-open" waste steam in a vented tank where the steam condenses into hot water of about 200 degrees F.
This hot water can be used to supplement hot water in lavatories and cleaning stations or it can be run through heat exchangers for heating food or other processes at the plant. One of the first companies to use the new system utilizes the steam for use with a heat exchanger. Heat exchanged water is returned to the Allpax collection tank in a closed loop heat recovery system.
The vented collection tank is pressure neutral in terms of "come-up vent-open" guidelines. In other words, the Allpax tank is engineered to have virtually the same pressure characteristics as an open vent pipe. The heat recovery system is PLC controlled and equipped with pressure sensors, ensuring that operations personnel will be alerted should deviations in specified pressure occur. Tanks are sized to the needs of the operation. The system is easily turned on or off, depending on production schedules. Return on investment should average three years for a mid-sized retort room. As energy prices rise, return on investment speeds up.
"Every company interested in improving its overall sustainability in terms of reducing energy and water consumption while lowering operating costs will find the new waste-heat recovery system a welcome addition to the plant," said Greg Jacob, vice president and general manager, Allpax.
For information on the new Allpax waste-heat recovery system suitable for both new installations and retrofits, call 1-888-893-9277 and visit www.Allpax.com.
About Allpax
Allpax Products, the market leader in retort technology and retort room automation, designs, manufactures, and delivers turnkey sterilization solutions for the food, beverage, pet food, and pharmaceutical industries. The company is recognized for helping customers become more successful by decreasing time to market with laboratory retort equipment, lowering overall labor costs through automation, and increasing the overall throughput of the sterilization process. The company is headquartered in Covington, LA, and is the sole U.S. licensee of the Shaka® retort process.
Allpax is powered by Pro Mach, a Cincinnati, Ohio based provider of integrated packaging products and solutions for food, beverage, household goods, pharmaceutical, and other diverse consumer and industrial companies. Through three business units and related divisions, Pro Mach provides equipment, training, installation, and parts in primary packaging, end-of-line packaging, and identification and tracking.
For more information about Pro Mach visit www.ProMachInc.com.
Media Contact:
Jack Aguero
770-965-9458
Allpax provides processing and sterilization machinery with industry leading controls to fully automate the retort process for any container.
