By Tetra Pak

Tetra Pak, Lausanne, Switzerland, has extended the application of its OneStep processing technology to milk production from powder, offering a solution that has only been available previously for production from raw milk. Producers can now prepare Ultra High Temperature (UHT) milk from powder in one continuous step, reducing operational cost by up to 40%, and cutting carbon impact by more than a half.

Tetra Pak’s OneStep technology removes the multiple steps of pasteurization and intermediate storage in the traditional process of preparing milk from powder before UHT treatment. Thanks to a complete redesign using the high-performing Tetra Pak High-Shear Mixer and Tetra Alfast in-line blending unit, the whole process is now streamlined into one continuous step. Skim milk powder is mixed with preheated water to make a concentrate, which is then blended with the precise amount of water and fat before undergoing UHT treatment.

In addition to simplifying and accelerating milk preparation, the OneStep technology enables complete automation and continuous operations, reducing milk waste traditionally lost between processing steps and improving consistency in product quality.

Producing milk from powder is a common practice in markets such as the Middle East, Far East and Africa, where milk is increasingly seen as a good source of protein but there is an insufficient supply of raw milk. This is an expanding, but competitive market, and as the cost of milk powder is high, producers are constantly searching for ways to keep production costs down. Tetra Pak’s OneStep technology helps producers to achieve just that.

Tetra Pak OneStep technology can be used to produce one single product, or configured into multiple streams to produce a number of recipes, giving customers full flexibility in production. It can also be used to produce formulated milk, which combines liquid milk or powder with fat and flavor to create flavored and value-added milk or lactic-acid drinks.

SOURCE: Tetra Pak