Sugar converting technology for juice
GEA Better Juice Sugar Converter Skid
Enzyme technology to naturally reduce the sugar content of fresh juice drinks by up to 80 percent, without affecting nutritional value, mouthfeel or texture.
An extra step in juice processing
The patented continuous-flow system adds one step to the production process to enzymically convert juice sugars into healthy dietary fibers and non-digestible sugars. This natural fermentation-free, non-GMO process occurs without adding or removing ingredients.
Commercial production
Following intensive development by GEA and Better Juice, and having achieved GRAS self-affirmation status, commercial production is now possible in the US. By reducing the sugar content of juice concentrate, food and beverage companies can now reformulate their products, from beverages to confectionary, with lower calorie labels.
GEA brings expertise, experience and an optimal design
The GEA Better Juice Sugar Converter Skid is engineered optimally to contain the enzyme and process a liquid ingredient or final product, with the necessary configurable parameters to achieve the desired reduction in sugar content. A highly automated solution, the process system will run continuously for up to 72 hours on NFC juice and up to one week on juice concentrate before a cleaning/sterilization cycle is required.
Test center provides solutions for unique product requirements
A pilot scale GEA Better Juice Sugar Converter Skid has been installed at the GEA Test Center for Aseptic Processing & Filling in Ahaus, Germany. Here, sugar reduction experts from Better Juice have joined forces with GEA’s specialist engineers to support and guide companies who wish to run trials or tests. In addition, the in-house team will provide laboratory services and analytical assistance.
It’s often helpful to demystify innovative solutions such as the Better Juice process, which is why we encourage interested parties to experiment with the technology themselves. Running trials and scalable tests under real-life conditions at Ahaus will help us to optimize the process efficiency for your product(s) and significantly reduce your time-to-market.
Features
- Up to 80% sugar reduction (adjustable to achieve the desired sugar level in the final product)
- Hygienic design
- pH control for optimal reactor system performance
- Suitable for standalone process or can be integrated into an existing juice production line or side stream
- Fully automated system
Technical data
| Qmax (l/h) | Length (mm) | Width (mm) | Height (mm) | Process connection (DN) | Installed electrical power (kW) | Weight approx (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 3,500 | 1,400 | 2,200 | 10 | 16 (*1) | 1,600 |
| 200 | 5,500 | 2,000 | 2,200 | 25 | 15 (*2) | 2,800 |
| 1,500 (*3) | 5,000 | 2,500 | 2,500 | 25 | 12 | 3,800 |
| 10,000 (*4) | 2,500
2,500 |
2,500
2,500 |
2,000
2,000 |
50 | 20 | 3,000
3,000 |
(*1) incl. electrical heating/cooling
(*2) incl. electrical heating
(*3) size excl. reactor tank
(*4) built in 2 skids, size excl. tanks
Downloads
GEA Insights
Pre2Fuel: Cleared for takeoff
GEA's innovative process marks a milestone in the pretreatment of biofuels such as hydro-treated vegetable oil and sustainable aviation fuel. By eliminating the bleaching process, manufacturers benefit from significant savings potential: over 50% lower operating costs and up to 12% less CO2 emissions.
The next era of food production with GEA NEXUS
Climate change and a growing world population put increased pressure on the energy-intensive food industry to feed more people without further impacting the planet. George Shepherd, GEA’s Global Technical Sustainability Manager, explains how GEA uses its engineering know-how to help processors produce more sustainably yet increase productivity.
Making milk production more sustainable for a growing world
The world's population is growing and with it demand for milk. Dairy is an essential component of many global diets. However, its production can be resource-intensive and impact the environment. GEA’s Christian Müller, Senior Director Sustainability Farm Technologies, sheds light on how technological innovations powered by GEA make milk production more efficient and profitable.
