Aseptic packaging

THE world market for aseptically packaged products will be worth $38 billion in 2015, according to the latest research by Markets and Markets, Global Aseptic Packaging Market by Applications, Type and Geography: Trends and Forecasts. Whilst the biggest volume growth will take place in Asia and Europe, in Africa as well as South America, the demand is also high for ambient temperature packaged products with longer shelf life, since many parts of these regions have a weak chilled distribution infrastructure.

“In Africa, the convenience of long-life dairy products is undeniable with many people not being able to afford refrigeration for fresh products. We expect investment in aseptic packaging and filling technology to increase in coming years, as consumer demand for long-life milk on the continent grows, and processors look for aseptic system suppliers that can offer solutions to meet market needs,” said Steve Stewart, SIG Combibloc’s marketing manager for sub-Sahara and South Africa.

“Eastern and Southern Africa are the major milk-producing regions and are well established milk markets. In Western Africa the majority of white milk is sold in powdered format. However, other dairy products like fermented milk, flavoured milk and drinking yoghurt are hugely popular,” he added.

Serac’s marketing manager for dairy, food and beverages, Fabiene Cheriaux said, “Customers are looking for aseptic lines with maximum product and packaging flexibility as they often need to fill low and high acid as well as shelf-stable and non-shelf-stable products on the same line. “This is possible as the cleaning, sanitation and sterilization operations are very efficient. It does, however, involve strict cleaning procedures and a high level of training and assistance for customers.”

According to Holger Kahlert, vice president of Filling Technology at Krones, “The general trend in aseptic filling is towards a significant reduction in cleaning and sterilisation media. “Plant operators want to move away from wet-aseptic with peracetic acid or dry sterilization with hydrogen peroxide towards chemical-free systems, for example, using irradiation.”

Dairy takes the lion’s share

Of aseptic packaging in the beverage category, milk products account for 42% market share. It is followed by juices and still drinks at 38%, and other dairy products at 20%, according to a report by Markets and Markets.

Tetra Pak’s 2013 Global Dairy lndex report identifies flavoured milk as well as baby and toddler milk as the growth engines for future liquid dairy product category development to satisfy the taste, nutrition and convenience requirements of developing market consumers. White milk currently accounts for 70% of total liquid dairy consumption and is expected to continue showing a healthy compound annual growth rate of 1.7% until 2015. The index, however, predicts that flavoured milk and baby and toddler milk will grow at 4.1% and 6.7% respectively over the next two years.

Flavoured milk is the second most widely consumed liquid dairy product after white milk and is expected to increase from 17 billion litres in 2012 to 19.2 billion litres in 2015. The report indicates that there are four drivers which are propelling the growth and popularity of flavoured milk.

Pursuing health. The index research panel revealed that consumer patterns are changing towards leading a healthier lifestyle. According to the Roper Reports Worldwide 2012 Survey – conducted in 25 markets across five cNIKE AIR FORCE