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Allpax Products, div of Pro Mach, introduces the Versatort, a full size, production scale research and development (R&D) retort with the capacity to perform both rotary and reciprocating agitation. The new Versatort retort facilitates production-scale testing in the lab environment. Having this production sized retort readily available in the R&D lab provides much faster throughput from product development to production. This new retort eliminates the need to leave the R&D environment and travel to an offsite plant for testing on a full-sized production machine.
Recognizing that its customers needed a versatile R&D retort solution, Allpax designed the Versatort to provide static processing as well as rotary agitation in a 32-inch cube basket and reciprocating agitation in a 40-inch cube basket. Processing modes include saturated steam, water spray, water immersion, and steam-air.
“The Versatort is another example of Allpax’s ability to provide customization tailored to a customer’s needs,” said Greg Jacob, Vice President and General Manager, Allpax. “Not only does this production scale retort provide the tools to determine the optimum solution, but it also gives customers the assurance that they have a plug-and-play R &D retort to meet their future needs.”
Versatility
The Versatort is ideal for brand owners and co-packers that produce several different types of packages. Rotary agitation works well for vertically oriented packaging, such as cans and glass jars. Reciprocating agitation is more effective for horizontally oriented containers, such as pouches and bowls. With this retort, users have a one-stop shop for all of their commercial R&D production testing as well as producing test market batches.
In addition, the new retort gives large food manufacturers with multiple products in various types of containers the ability to choose the process mode and agitation method best suited for their specific needs. It also gives them the assurance that they will achieve the exact same outcome when the recipe and process are implemented on the plant floor.
The Versatort gives users the unique ability to weigh differences between reciprocating and rotary agitation for their application and select the optimal solution. For example, a rectangular container can be oriented vertically or horizontally. If it is horizontal, reciprocating agitation is the best choice. If it is standing up, rotary agitation is typically the best solution. Users can make direct comparisons to determine which agitation style works best for the product’s overall quality of taste and appearance. Testing also gives an accurate idea of overall throughput based on each process.
Easy changeover
To ensure easy changeover between agitation methods, the rotary and reciprocating modules of the Versatort are mounted on customized carts that can quickly be moved into position so the modules can be bolted in place. This provides an ergonomically friendly method for changeovers and a simple solution that suits the limited space laboratory environment.
