Liquid nitrogen dosing of PET bottles, two new “tri-block” filling machines, and new labeling equipment selected largely on the strength of how easy it is to change over—these are the highlights of what has been a very busy year at Baltimore-based Pompeian Inc., a leading maker of olive oil, vinegar, and cooking wine.
The need for liquid nitrogen dosing is, as vice president of operations Kevin Lydon puts it, “a bit of a mystery.” Ordinarily it’s used in PET bottles that, because they’re hot-filled with non-carbonated products, develop an internal vacuum once they’re capped and begin to cool. The liquid nitrogen turns to gas that prevents buildup of internal vacuum pressure and, consequently, prevents bottle sidewalls from collapsing inward.
