Ball Corporation Selects Allpax Retort to Test Shaka Process
October 30, 2007
Covington, LA - Ball Corporation has selected Allpax Products' Research and Development retort to test their containers viability and effectiveness for Shaka and other retort processes. Ball is the first container manufacturer to acquire Shaka testing capabilities.
"We chose Allpax because of their machine's ability to provide every retort process that we need to test our containers in one compact unit," said Michael Richardson, Ball's Director of Product Innovation. "The flexible control software allows us to create custom temperature, pressure, and agitation profiles quickly - a necessity for our research team. When a customer comes to us for a new container, we can test concepts under the full array of retort process modes and provide detailed results. With the Allpax Shaka R&D retort, Ball continues to invest in technologies that will benefit our customers."
Shaka technology is a method of batch retorting in which packaged foods, pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals are rapidly agitated during the retort process. Shaka processing provides vigorous agitation in a back-and-forth motion, mixing the container contents thoroughly, allowing for rapid and even heat transfer throughout. The result is a better-tasting product with more appealing color, texture and mouth feel than products processed under other modes of in-container sterilization.
"When a major container manufacturer such as Ball purchases a Shaka R&D, it adds another layer of credibility and enthusiasm for the developing technology," said Tyler Hudson, Business Development Manager at Allpax. "As a retort manufacturer, we've focused on providing our customers with effective machines and research tools to help them answer container-related questions. Our testing has shown significant reductions in thermal process times and dramatically improved product quality. Having container experts bring their knowledge to the process is a key step in the commercialization of Shaka-processed products."
About Pro Mach
Pro Mach is a leading provider of integrated packaging products and solutions for food, beverage, household goods, pharmaceutical, and other diverse consumer and industrial companies. Through three business units and related divisions, Pro Mach provides equipment, training, installation, and parts in primary packaging, end-of-line packaging, and identification and tracking.
Pro Mach has a diverse customer base, from Fortune 200 companies to smaller, privately-held businesses worldwide, which depend on reliable, flexible, technologically advanced packaging equipment and integrated solution sets. Pro Mach is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio with manufacturing facilities and offices throughout the United States and Canada.
Pro Mach is an Odyssey Investment Partners, LLC portfolio company. Odyssey is a leading middle-market private equity fund with approximately $1.0 billion under management. Areas of investment focus for Odyssey include industrial, aerospace, business and financial services as well as route-based services.
For more information about Pro Mach visit our website at ProMachInc.com.
Media Contact:
Brent Meyer
513.831.8778, ex. 437
bmeyer@ProMachInc.com
