| Filling principle | Hot-fill, up to 85 C |
| Capacity range | 6,000-36,000 BPH at 0.2-2 L |
| Package | Heat-resistant PET geometry, or glass |
| Line | Hot-fill monobloc with tunnel pasteuriser |
| Products | Juice, tea, nectar, functional drinks |
| Key control | Fill temperature, hold time, cap seal |
Hot filling does two jobs at once: it pasteurises the product on the way to the filler, and the residual heat sanitises the bottle and cap. That is why a hot-fill line can run an acidic juice without a separate bottle steriliser. The price is a heat-resistant bottle and a longer cooling tunnel.
Precise temperature control throughout the hotfill juice production process is critical for achieving optimal product safety and shelf life.
Fill temperature and hold time together set the pasteurisation result. Below the target, shelf life is at risk; above it, the product cooks and the bottle deforms. The number belongs to the product and the bottle, not to the machine, and it should be written into the acceptance protocol with a tolerance.
Utilizing advanced temperature control systems and monitoring equipment allows for real-time adjustments and ensures that the juice is processed under controlled conditions.
| Route | Temperature | What it costs |
|---|---|---|
| Hot fill | Up to 85 C | Heat-resistant bottle and a cooling tunnel |
| Cold fill with preservative | Ambient | Formulation constraint, not a machine constraint |
| Cold fill with in-line pasteuriser | Product-side only | Separate pasteuriser and a closed filling zone |
| Hot fill in glass | Up to 85 C | Glass mass, slower line, higher transport cost |
For the same duty in another bottle format, the Hotfill Type Filling Machine for Juice is specified separately.
Cap seals and filling valve O-rings, because they see the highest temperature every cycle. A seal that is fine on a water line at 20 C will harden in weeks at 85 C. The spare parts list should carry those two items in proportion to the number of valves, not as a single set.
Valve count, utility schedule and footprint sit on the Juice By Volumetric Filler page.
Tea usually needs finer filtration, deaeration to protect aroma, and a fill temperature that does not strip the volatile notes. Tea also clouds after cooling, so the clarification step is part of the product design, not a filling detail.
By minimizing temperature variations and adhering to recommended guidelines, you can enhance the quality, safety, and shelf life of hotfill juice products.
The same question is worked through from another angle in Hotfill Juice in Glass: Cooling Tunnel and Tea-Side Differences.
Usually fill temperature above the bottle rating, or a vacuum that forms as the product cools. Check the fill temperature against the bottle specification and the cap seal before changing the cooling profile.
Yes, if the filler, the recipe and the downstream cooling are specified for both. Tea usually needs a finer filtration step and a different deaeration setting, so the changeover is a recipe and filter change, not just a new label.
Heat-sensitive pigments and vitamins degrade above the product temperature limit. The fill temperature and the hold time are the two variables; lowering either protects colour and shortens the microbial margin.
A controlled ramp rather than a cold plunge, so the bottle does not deform under vacuum. The tunnel zones are set per bottle geometry and validated with a temperature probe in the product.
Country: Turkey
Product: Glass and PET Bottled Juice
Capacity: 20000BPH(330ml) Glass Bottle; 4000BPH(3L) PET Bottle
Solution:Juice Production Line
Country:Kazakhstan
Product: PET Bottled Sparkling Water, Canned Soft Drink, Canned Tea
Capacity: 25000CPH (250ml)
Solution:Three Lines,7000BPH(1.5L), 15000CPH(330ml),15000CPH(450ml)