| Filling method | Hot-fill, up to 85 C |
| Output 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.
Regularly monitor the temperature of the juice in the holding tanks and adjust as needed to ensure it meets the specific requirements for hot filling.
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.
Regularly calibrate filling machines, heat exchange systems, and temperature controls to ensure accurate operation.
| 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 |
The unit behind this configuration is the Hotfill Type Filling Machine for Juice.
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.
Regularly inspect and maintain these systems to prevent temperature fluctuations that can affect product quality.
For the same duty in another bottle format, the Juice By Volumetric Filler is specified separately.
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.
Temperature control is a critical factor in hotfill juice bottling to ensure product quality and safety.
The same question is worked through from another angle in How to Troubleshoot Hotfill Juice Production Lines.
No. Standard PET softens and deforms at fill temperature. The bottle needs a heat-resistant geometry, and the mould and preform are part of the project, not an afterthought.
It replaces the bottle steriliser for acidic products, because the fill temperature and hold time do the microbial work. It does not replace correct product formulation or a validated hold tube.
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.
With a filter change and a different valve bore for the pulp, yes. Clear juice needs finer filtration, and pulp needs agitation in the bowl so the fibre does not settle.
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)
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