The industrial transfer of fruit juices involves several steps, including the unloading and washing of raw materials, fruit pressing for juice extraction, possible filtration and pulp separation, mixing, pasteurization, and packaging. The high-tech machines used in this sector, particularly in the pasteurization and filling/packaging stages, enable the production of high-quality, stable beverages with an extended shelf life, available throughout the year.
Materials in Contact with Food
The processing and transfer of fruit juice in an industrial piping system involves contact between the liquid food and the internal surfaces of pipes, pumps, valves, tanks, and various types of machinery. The materials used for manufacturing the processing equipment must be sufficiently inert to prevent their components from negatively impacting the final product’s quality and consumer safety.
In the food industry, materials in contact with food are classified as MOCA (Materials and Objects in Contact with Food) and are subject to the restrictions of European Regulation 1935/2004 EC. This regulation requires operators to ensure and guarantee each product’s compliance by following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and adhering to current regulations. Specifically, the regulation states that MOCA must not transfer components to food in amounts that could endanger human health, cause unacceptable changes to the food composition, or significantly deteriorate its organoleptic properties.
Preventing Corrosion: Suitable Materials
In fruit juice production, the selection of materials that come into contact with the food and their processing (e.g., welding, surface treatments) play a crucial role in ensuring consumer safety and product quality, as well as compliance with regulations. Fruit juices are mixtures containing various substances, some of which promote metal corrosion. Juices extracted from oranges, apples, and pineapples, for example, contain acidic substances like citric, malic, and oxalic acids, which tend to react with metals and catalyze corrosion. Many preservatives and additives used in beverage preparation also have properties that contribute to metal degradation. Corrosion is the deterioration of metals due to chemical or electrochemical reactions with the surrounding environment’s oxygen. If the materials used to manufacture processing equipment are not properly selected and processed, corrosion can contaminate the product and cause quality and safety issues.
To prevent corrosion, it is essential to adopt preventive measures and install equipment made of stainless steel that meets regulatory standards. Stainless steels offer excellent corrosion protection, provided they are properly processed and maintained.
Preventing Corrosion: Proper Joints
In a fruit juice production plant, process hygiene largely depends on the quality of surfaces in contact with the treated fluid. This quality depends not only on the material used but also on its processing. For stainless steel transfer systems, welding at connection points is critical for maintaining surface quality. Due to differences in material properties at weld zones and resulting differences in surface roughness, these areas are prone to corrosion and potential beverage stagnation. Welding defects also increase product adhesion to surfaces, hindering cleaning and sanitizing operations.
Therefore, joints in a fruit juice production plant should be made with TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) systems without filler material, considered the only ones capable of ensuring surface quality near the joints. Additionally, automatic systems like orbital welding are preferred as they allow greater control over process parameters, supported by creating an inert atmosphere throughout the weld zone, including the part not directly involved by the electric arc.
The Fruit Juice Market
Fruit juices are widely consumed by people of all ages. Numerous products are available on the market, differing in the type of fruit used, juice concentration, and other recipe components. The global fruit-based beverage market reached a volume of about 47 billion liters in 2020 and is expected to continue growing, reaching 53 billion liters by 2026.
Transfer of Fruit Juices: Granzotto’s Piping System
Granzotto manufactures complete systems for fruit juice production, ensuring compliance with hygiene and safety regulations. For liquid transfer in an industrial plant, Granzotto offers G-MOVE piping system solutions, a set of products and services designed to meet customer needs, considering the nature of the beverage and the plant’s characteristics. Each component is carefully selected and processed to be compatible with the treated liquid and resist potential corrosion.
