Baby milk is a highly sensitive product. It should provide the baby with all the important nutrients it needs and protect its immune system in the first few months of life. The prerequisite for this is high-quality infant formula, which is produced and filled in compliance with the strictest hygiene and quality standards. We have over 50 years of experience of developing and building filling and packaging systems for infant formula, and we can supply you with machine solutions that are a recipe for success.
As a manufacturer of powdered infant formula, you face multiple challenges. Infant formula needs to be produced and filled in a safe, hygienic way and at the same time, it is subject to growing pressure to reduce costs. In the market, there is a growing demand for sustainability, as well as a desire for powders and containers that can be adapted to suit a wide range of applications.
How do you go about meeting all these demands? Choose a recipe for success that will stand up to today's and tomorrow's demands. With core processes tailored to meet your needs, Optima offers the very heart of your production line from a single source, and implements both individual machines and turnkey solutions with all process steps.
You will benefit from synergies within the Optima group of companies. At Optima Pharma, for example, we work in accordance with the strict filling standards required for pharmaceuticals. We also use this expertise to create machine solutions for your infant formula. This guarantees you safe processes and means you can rely on Optima's systems expertise and experience with confidence.
As a manufacturer of powdered infant formula, you face multiple challenges. Infant formula needs to be produced and filled in a safe, hygienic way and at the same time, it is subject to growing pressure to reduce costs. In the market, there is a growing demand for sustainability, as well as a desire for powders and containers that can be adapted to suit a wide range of applications.
How do you go about meeting all these demands? Choose a recipe for success that will stand up to today's and tomorrow's demands. With core processes tailored to meet your needs, Optima offers the very heart of your production line from a single source, and implements both individual machines and turnkey solutions with all process steps.
You will benefit from synergies within the Optima group of companies. At Optima Pharma, for example, we work in accordance with the strict filling standards required for pharmaceuticals. We also use this expertise to create machine solutions for your infant formula. This guarantees you safe processes and means you can rely on Optima's systems expertise and experience with confidence.
More than just filling: You can now realize the full range of infant formula packaging using Optima's filling and packaging equipment, for example, metal cans, containers, cardboard boxes and single serve applications in both capsule and tablet form.
We use informative pre-tests to help you get the most out of your filling system. In these filling tests, we use ramming tests, for example, to establish how compactable your products are. By knowing this, we can determine the amplitude for the vibration. This eliminates powder domes and ensures perfect close for your containers.
We also use gassing tests to ensure that there is an optimal level of residual oxygen in the filled product or containers. This is achieved particularly accurately by the OPTIMA EGS evacuation, gassing and seaming system with several vacuum stages – and it also saves on gas.
We use informative pre-tests to help you get the most out of your filling system. In these filling tests, we use ramming tests, for example, to establish how compactable your products are. By knowing this, we can determine the amplitude for the vibration. This eliminates powder domes and ensures perfect close for your containers.
We also use gassing tests to ensure that there is an optimal level of residual oxygen in the filled product or containers. This is achieved particularly accurately by the OPTIMA EGS evacuation, gassing and seaming system with several vacuum stages – and it also saves on gas.
We use digital twins and simulations to check the level of operating requirements for your system, and determine parameters such as the autonomy time as well as its behavior under specific environmental conditions. This all has one goal: to achieve the highest possible OEE (Overall Equipment Efficiency) for you.
We use digital twins and simulations to check the level of operating requirements for your system, and determine parameters such as the autonomy time as well as its behavior under specific environmental conditions. This all has one goal: to achieve the highest possible OEE (Overall Equipment Efficiency) for you.
Either for standalone machines or lines, with design reviews in our Digital Innovation Center, you can keep an eye on your project throughout its entire development. Working together, we can check machine details long before your system is complete, plan logistics routes and easily and flexibly make changes to the overall system.
Either for standalone machines or lines, with design reviews in our Digital Innovation Center, you can keep an eye on your project throughout its entire development. Working together, we can check machine details long before your system is complete, plan logistics routes and easily and flexibly make changes to the overall system.
Listening, thinking ahead, implementing: We have been working in close partnership with customers around the world in line with this principle for over 100 years. This means that you benefit from our product-specific application experience and from systems that are tailor-made to meet your exact requirements. The goal is clear: You want to have your products filled as safely, economically and as environmentally friendly as possible.
Clearly traceable processes and production data for each container, along with one hundred percent in-process monitoring, ensure that your products meet the highest possible quality standards.
Your system arrives already fully tested at your premises. This keeps the time required and the cost of on-site commissioning to a minimum. Another bonus is the minimal high-care footprint. Line simulations ensure that you end up with the exact solution you need ahead of time – with a minimal footprint.
We are already sustainably building the machines of tomorrow today. As a result, the unique combination of the three functions of evacuation, gassing and seaming on a single system leads to maximum output with a minimum footprint. In addition, you save investment costs for the clincher as well as operating costs – and also gain space plus production reliability.
Supplying you with sustainable machines is one thing. However, it is also important to support you in developing sustainable packaging. After all, well-made packaging both extends food shelf life and eliminates waste. In doing so, we not only think sustainably, we also work that way.
Benefit from our "We care for tomorrow" strategyOur solutions for filling infant formula are about maximum safety and the highest possible production and resource efficiency.
Whether the containers are round, oval, rectangular or square, nothing can go wrong when filling infant formula. To ensure nothing does, the OPTIMA FS integrated auger dosers operate continuously, regardless of the types and shapes of material used. You can either fill based on the average value or ensure extremely precise dosage using the minimum quantity filling principle. The built-in topping-up system assists with this.
In this step, all three functions – evacuation, gassing and seaming – are combined and accommodated in a small area. Developed specifically for the infant formula market, the OPTIMA EGS system can process every can individually without batch processing. The entire product column is evacuated using the new evacuation process. You benefit from significantly reduced residual oxygen levels – even after several days. Another advantage is that there is no soiling of the flared rim.
Whether a snap-on or spoon-cap, with the OPTIMA Rotocap, your infant formula containers automatically get the right closure. The machine takes over the sorting, feeding and placing of the snap-on caps or the targeted positioning of the spoon cap.
One of the most important services we offer is listening – because we know the optimal solution can only be developed from an in-depth dialogue with our customers.
Output: up to 250 containers/min. | formats: Ø 70–156 mm
The OPTIMA FS combines portioning and filling power. The continuously operating machine with an integrated auger doser fills round, oval, rectangular and square containers made from a range of different materials. Use your topping-up system to produce based on the minimum quantity filling principle. For mean value filling (e-filling), simply use the filling system without topping up.
Feeding the containers into the filling star wheel. The OPTIMA FS fills containers of varying shapes and made of different materials.
The integrated auger doser means the infant formula is filled with high precision and minimal give-away.
We will send you the OPTIMA FS solution brochure. You will receive an e-mail with a download link.
Output: up to 250 containers/min. | Format: Ø 70–153 mm
We have developed the OPTIMA EGS system specifically for the infant formula market. The system integrates the evacuation and gassing of your containers with a closing station provided by the customer – and does so with a much smaller footprint. In doing so, the system processes each can individually, without a batch process. Thanks to an innovative evacuation process, the EGS achieves lasting, greatly reduced residual oxygen levels.
The OPTIMA EGS is an optimal custom system (…). Officially, residual oxygen levels are below one percent and therefore in a range that meets all the requirements for modern infant nutrition. In reality, however, the values in production are usually much lower than this.
Output: up to 360 containers/min. I Format caps & containers: Ø 70–154 mm
The OPTIMA Rotocap capping machine is fully automated to process all common cap types, such as snap-on and spoon caps. Thanks to flexible linear motors, no format changeover is necessary if your cans or lids only vary in height. If you are planning to fit lids onto cans of different diameters, it takes just a few minutes to change over the format.
At 360 cans per minute, the continuous processing ensures smooth, rapid transfer. Individually servomotor-driven spindles ensure the lids are reliably positioned.
Cameras are available as an option to facilitate quality inspection and the alignment of caps with the containers.
The bigger the production line, the greater the number of interfaces there are. These are known to be error-prone and costly to bridge. Why make the effort? When you choose us as your turnkey partner, you save on budget, time and stress. We take care of the subcontractors and scheduling so that your infant formula filling line can be up and running ahead of time. As a minimum, we will start up your core processes in advance, giving you a competitive edge in the light of rising market demands and shorter product lifecycles.
We support you throughout the entire lifecycle of your system to ensure long-term, smooth production. We are open to complementary technologies, and are happy to consult with your existing suppliers. We offer manufacturing intelligence solutions to make your production line even more profitable. When it comes to documentation, validation and project handling, you can benefit from our expertise in the pharmaceutical sector upon request.
We will send you the milk powder fact sheet. You will receive an e-mail with a download link.