Hansheng Automation machines replacement and custom parts for this equipment from customer drawings, including one-off and small-batch runs.
Milk carton filling runs through three main stages: aseptic preparation, filling and sealing, and inspection and packing. Automated equipment handles each stage to keep output and hygiene at the required level.
Aseptic preparation
Packaging material
Cartons use multilayer composite paper with PE and foil layers. The material first passes through hydrogen peroxide spray or UV sterilization. A former then folds it into a carton body, and the bottom is sealed automatically.
Raw milk pretreatment
Milk goes through standardization to adjust fat and protein content, homogenization to reduce fat particle size, and UHT treatment at 135 to 140°C for 4 to 15 seconds. It is then cooled to 20 to 25°C and fed to the filler under aseptic conditions.
Filling and sealing
Aseptic filling environment
The inside of the filler is held under positive pressure with sterile air. This keeps outside microorganisms out.
Metered filling
A piston or rotary metering pump injects milk into the carton. Common volumes are 250 ml and 500 ml.
Top sealing
After filling, the top is sealed by ultrasonic welding or heat sealing. Some products also get a production date or batch code stamped on the package.
Inspection and packing
Inline inspection
A weight sensor rejects underfilled or overfilled cartons. A vision system checks seal integrity and code clarity. A metal detector checks for foreign matter.
Cartoning and palletizing
Accepted cartons are arranged by a lane divider, loaded into shipping cases by a cartoner, and stacked on pallets by a palletizing robot. The pallets then move to storage.
Main equipment and systems
Tetra Pak and Combibloc packaging systems
These are common aseptic packaging systems. They combine forming, filling, and sealing in one line.
CIP and SIP systems
After production, clean-in-place (CIP) and sterilize-in-place (SIP) clean and sterilize pipes and the filler for the next run.
