Healthy and refreshing: A DUE Technology for beverage containing fruit chunks production

A DUE, also thanks to collaboration with the Parma University and Sperimental Research Centers, boasts a proven experience in design and construction of specific plants for the preparation of beverages containing fruit particles. Generally, these are juices containing up to 10% of citrus sacs (dimensions 3×1 ÷ 8×2 mm) or fruit chunks of mango, pineapple, strawberry, etc. (dimensions 4x4x4 ÷ 10x10x10 mm).

The correct preparation of the concentrated phase containing pieces (so-called SLURRY), its dilution and mixing, as well as the homogeneous mixed product feeding to the filler are of utmost importance to prevent pieces from mechanical and thermal damage and to preserve as much as possible their organoleptic and nutritional characteristics.

A DUE is able to process slurries with high viscosity (containing thickening agents that allow for particle suspension) and with high concentration, even > 1,500 cPs and> 55 ° Bx, thanks to a special compact and multifunctional MONOBLOCK that can carry out emptying/dilution/mixing and product transfer to the filler.

The slurry is usually contained in 500 or 1,000-litre kegs which, prior to emptying, are placed on a weighing plate, part of the A DUE system, to measure the withdrawn amount.

The slurry is then emptied by means of a membrane pump and transferred to the two horizontal tanks equipped with a special design low-speed agitator developed by A DUE, that keeps the fruit pieces in perfectly homogeneous dispersion preventing them from mechanical stress.

In relation to the measured quantity of the slurry transferred, the system adds correct quantity of water to reach the pre-set °Bx-degree and feed the filler at the expected flow rate thus ensuring the correct product dosing: the solution must be neither too diluted (to avoid particle settling) nor too viscous (would make it difficult the dosage).

Should a highly concentrated and viscous slurry be processed, to reduce the preparation time and maximize the mixing effectiveness, during dilution the water is warmed with a first heat exchanger. A second exchanger cools the product down, so that it is send to the filler at a constant temperature, essential condition to ensure constancy in viscosity and then in the number of pieces contained in the bottle. Product delivery to the filler is carried out by means of a low-flow lobe-pump to avoid damaging the pieces.

All the valves involved in the product path are chosen and sized to avoid damage to the pieces, in particular the shut-off valves of the finished product are ball type rather that butterfly and are cleanable to prevent particle settling to alter the product Brix.

Each horizontal tank is equipped with a special design sampling valve (developed by A DUE to allow the passage of the pieces) for laboratory tests; a refractometer is also provided to control the mixed product Brix.

The system is designed to ensure perfect sanitation, i.e. the two washing spray balls installed on each tank can also be provided in “burst rinsing” version.

A DUE also supplies the CIP sanitization system and, for HF applications, the tubular pasteurizer for pieces.