FRANCE – Sidel, a company specializing in equipment and services for liquid packaging, has introduced its new innovative Hydra Ultrasonic bottle washer.
This new machine, which combines chemical and ultrasonic technology, aims to enhance performance while helping beverage bottlers cut production costs and improve their environmental impact.
The French manufacturer explained that as the beverage industry increasingly adopts refillable returnable glass bottles, there is a growing need for advanced bottle-washing technology to ensure bottles are hygienically cleaned before reuse.
The washing process requires a precise balance of temperature, chemical detergents, and time to effectively remove dirt and debris.
The Hydra Ultrasonic bottle washer leverages both chemical and ultrasonic technology to significantly boost the mechanical cleaning effect, thereby reducing the required washing time and temperature while enhancing overall performance.
This advanced cleaning process ensures high efficiency on both the interior and exterior surfaces of bottles, even tackling caustic-resistant dirt. Additionally, the mechanical effect of ultrasound effectively cleans carrier beams.
Sidel highlighted that this competitive washing process leads to lower rejection rates and can increase production rates by up to 15%.
The rising focus on the environmental impact of packaging, along with legislative reuse targets, is driving demand for returnable glass and PET bottle solutions. These solutions reduce the need for primary raw materials while ensuring safe product delivery to consumers.
The integration of ultrasonic technology with traditional chemical agents has a significant positive impact on the machine’s overall environmental footprint.
The new bottle washing solution achieves greater efficiency at lower temperatures, resulting in a 20% reduction in steam consumption and a 15% reduction in water consumption.
By enabling 100% electrification through a heat pump, the Hydra Ultrasonic replaces steam with hot water, further reducing CO2 emissions.
The Hydra Ultrasonic also supports beverage bottlers in reducing production costs through total cost of ownership (TCO) savings.
The solution is a profitable investment for manufacturers, requiring shorter washing times and fewer components such as motors, pockets, and chain lengths, while reducing plant heating by up to 50%.
Andrea Solfa, Product Manager at Sidel, stated, “Real progress means doing more with less. That’s why, in developing our new bottle washing technology, we set ourselves two objectives: to improve the machine’s washing capacity while at the same time reducing its overall consumption and carbon footprint.”
As a result of the reduced washing time and fewer components, the Hydra Ultrasonic achieves a 20% reduction in overall footprint compared to traditional bottle washing solutions. Its advanced technology also requires less maintenance and a lower level of cleaning.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
