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High Pressure Processing (HPP): Test facilities for the high pressure treatment of packaged food.

Wolfertschwenden, 10.11.2011 - Since the beginning of November 2011 MULTIVAC has offered its customers an additional service: the packaging specialist has set up at its head-quarters in Wolfertschwenden a HPP test plant for the high pressure treatment of packaged food, and it also supports its customers in conducting shelf life tests. The test plant enables different packaging concepts to be tested in conjunction with HPP and these then to be further developed.

High pressure treatment (High Pressure Processing, HPP) is used to reduce harmful bacteria in food. This enables the shelf life and safety of food products to be improved, without it being necessary to introduce heat or preservatives. In this way HPP technology meets the requirements of the food industry for extended shelf life as well as the wishes of consumers for natural food without additives. The main areas of application for HPP are ready meals, meat and sausage products, as well as fruit and vegetables. High pressure treatment is also however applied to seafoods and fish, as well as juices and other drinks.  

Jointly with its partner Uhde High Pressure Technologies, MULTIVAC has significantly extended the development of the HPP process and it holds several patents in this area. For the first time the secure treatment of MAP packaged food is also possible thanks to several new innovations. Now MULTIVAC has set up its own HPP test center in Wolfertschwenden, which food producers can use for conducting their series of tests. "Our customers can bring their food products either packed or unpacked, since we obviously also pack the products here on site. In this way our customers can test various packaging concepts in conjunction with high pressure treatment", says Dr Tobias Richter, who is responsible for HPP at MULTIVAC.

The HPP test plant is complemented by a wide range of services which MULTIVAC provides in its Application Center in Wolfertschwenden. Among these are an established expertise in the area of packaging materials, packaging development and food technology. MULTIVAC also supports its customers in conducting shelf life tests and it advises them on designing their packaging concepts to suit high pressure treatment.

MULTIVAC also provides its customers with the necessary facilities for example to evaluate the test results immediately on site, or to further develop the appropriate packaging concepts. MULTIVAC is as yet the only packaging manufacturer in the world which offers its customers HPP test facilities and this comprehensive service.  

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