TETRA PAK AT PACK EXPO INTERNATIONAL 2026

PACK EXPO International, scheduled at McCormick Place in Chicago, features industrial manufacturing technologies across processing and packaging sectors, where advanced membrane separation systems will be presented to improve component fractionation and line efficiency in beverage and dairy plants.

Core Technology and System Architecture
The featured processing architecture centers on membrane ultrafiltration, a pressure-driven physical separation technique operating across semi-permeable barriers. Ultrafiltration isolates dissolved macromolecules, proteins, and suspended solids from liquid streams based on molecular weight cut-offs, bypassing thermal degradation cycles. Integrated into continuous beverage and dairy lines, the system coordinates cross-flow filtration loops with automated clean-in-place cycles, standardizing fluid viscosity, protein concentrations, and soluble solid ratios prior to downstream thermal treatment and packaging.

Deployment and Implementation
Implementation involves integrating skid-mounted membrane units directly into upstream ingredient handling, blending, and pasteurization stages. Process integration is monitored via industrial control software, specifically Tetra Pak Factory OS, which links process skids to automated filling systems such as aseptic carton form-fill-seal machines. This automation platform balances flow rates, monitors differential trans-membrane pressures, and tracks real-time operating metrics across the plant floor.

Industry Applications
Targeted at commercial dairy processors, alternative protein manufacturers, and liquid food packaging facilities, membrane filtration isolates target fractions such as native whey, micellar casein, and plant-based protein concentrates. Concrete operational use cases include standardizing cheese milk protein content, concentrating liquid fractions without evaporative heat, and preparing enriched fluid bases. Aseptic filling formats, including the Tetra Brik Aseptic Edge and portion-sized Tetra Classic units, maintain barrier integrity against light and oxygen penetration to ensure shelf stability without cold-chain dependence.

Operational Impact and Performance Metrics
Selective separation delivers direct mass-balance improvements by maximizing yield from incoming raw milk and liquid feed streams. By substituting mechanical concentration for thermal evaporation, processors lower primary thermal energy consumption and prevent thermal denaturation of functional proteins. Continuous trans-membrane pressure monitoring reduces membrane fouling, extending filtration run lengths between chemical cleaning intervals and stabilizing overall line throughput.

“Whether that means exploring a new packaging format, finding ways to get more value from existing product streams or improving processing efficiency, we’re focused on bringing together the technologies and expertise that can help our customers turn those opportunities into reality,” said Seth Teply, president and CEO of Tetra Pak U.S. and Canada.

Edited by Evgeny Churilov, Induportals Media - Adapted by AI.

www.tetrapak.com