HPP - High Pressure Processing
HPP - High Pressure Processing
Consumers want natural, fresh products – ideally without additives and without the loss of nutrients caused by heating. At the same time, around 30% of food is still being thrown away, some of it before even being sold. High pressure processing by thyssenkrupp allows gentle preservation of food by high pressure – without additives or heat. The latter is an important difference to "classic" thermal pasteurization, even though HPP is also known as "high-pressure pasteurization". Products are processed in their packaging. It works for vacuum and modified atmosphere packs and for plastic bottles. The result: much longer shelf life and maximum product safety and therefore more satisfied customers. At the same time the texture, look, nutrients and taste of your products remain intact. And all of that is achieved while HPP being environment-friendly and free of waste.
The products are conveyed in special baskets into a high-pressure vessel. It moves into the machine and is filled with water. Pumps increase the pressure in the vessel to 6,000 bar. This corresponds roughly to the weight of three jumbo jets acting on an area the size of a smartphone. In this process the pressure is applied both immediately and evenly spread leaving no evident crushing effect on the products. After a few minutes – the time varies according to product – the pressure is reduced again in a controlled way. The rest is simple: drain the water and unload the vessel, and the machine is ready for the next round of high pressure processing.
All the HPP process needs is water (which can be recirculated) and power for the pumps. By using pressure for the preservation of foods and beverages neither heat nor any chemicals are required. Products are typically cooled before entering the HPP process. Pressurization increases the temperature by around 18°C and the products are compressed by around 16% in their packaging. During decompression the product cools roughly back to its initial temperature and expands back to its original size. As high temperatures are not needed the products remain fresh and flavorful and won’t undergo unintended changes in color or structure as if thermal heat would be applied. This makes high pressure processing or high hydrostatic pressure processing (HHP) as it can be called as well the natural choice for high quality.
A few years ago thyssenkrupp group with its leading high-pressure technology subsidiary Uhde HPT, specialized in the construction of HPP plants and machinery. The Uhde High Pressure Technologies brand has stood for high-pressure excellence "made in Germany" since 1930. Our experienced team of engineers, chemists and technicians has been building tailor-made HPP high-pressure processing systems for more than 20 years. The machines are individually tailored to the high-pressure pasteurization of our customers.
Uhde High Pressure Technologies GmbH
Buschmuehlenstrasse 20
58093 Hagen
Germany
thyssenkrupp Uhde USA, LLC
11221 Cutten Rd, Bldg 5
Houston, TX 77066
USA
thyssenkrupp Uhde USA, LLC
11221 Cutten Rd, Bldg 5
Houston, TX 77066
USA
Uhde High Pressure Technologies GmbH
Buschmuehlenstrasse 20
58093 Hagen
Germany
Uhde High Pressure Technologies GmbH
Buschmuehlenstrasse 20
58093 Hagen
Germany