Nitrogen Purge Systems for Liquid and Powder

Though Liquid Packaging Solutions specializes in packaging machinery for liquid products, as our name suggests, many of the individual machines manufactured in La Porte, Indiana can be used for non-liquid products as well.  For example, power conveyors can move liquids and solids down a packaging system.  Similarly, a nitrogen purge system can be used with both liquid and powder products.  

 

As we have mentioned before, nitrogen purge systems can be used on a variety of products to replace oxygen in a container or in the head space of a container.  Replacing oxygen with nitrogen removes the detrimental effect that oxygen can have on some products.  Replacing the oxygen results in a longer shelf life as well as the retention of the original flavor, color and texture of many products. 

 

Purging of the head space will normally occur immediately before the product container is closed or sealed.  This placement of the purge system on a packaging line helps to ensure that the nitrogen remains captured in the head space as the product is closed.  With liquid products in plastic bottles, the purge will often occur just before a spindle capper, chuck capper or other capping machine.  Powder products, however, are not usually packaged in a plastic bottle, which can create some concern for packagers.  Powders may be packaged in pouches, jars, cups, bags and sometimes larger plastic containers and bottles.  Just like liquid in a plastic bottle, these products may be adversely affected by the oxygen that may be left in the head space upon the closure of the package.  The nitrogen purge system from LPS can be manufactured to handle these powder products and packages as well as the liquid in bottles and other containers.  

 

Nitrogen purge systems can be manufactured as single head dispensing machines as well as multiple head equipment for larger production demands.  Though gas is normally used to achieve a longer shelf life and protect the original qualities of the product, a liquid nitrogen dosing machine is also available from LPS.  The liquid dosing system can also be used to make plastic bottles more rigid in addition to the benefits mentioned above.  As liquid nitrogen is released into a container, it almost immediately turns to gas and expands, purging oxygen and strengthening the container in some cases.

 

Nitrogen purge systems will not be found on every packaging line, but will be popular in a number of different industries.  For example, the nitrogen purge system is popular in the Food and Beverage Industry, for pharmaceuticals and for a number of cosmetic products as well.  In general, when a product is ingested or applied to the skin, a purge can have a beneficial effect, though any product that does not react well with oxygen may benefit from the process.  

 

For more information, visit the nitrogen purge page on our website or call our offices to speak with a Packaging Specialist today.