The Cryovac Retort Lab at Clemson University and STOCK America, a ProMach brand, announced the completion of a modernization and major expansion of the lab’s capabilities.

With the ability to simulate the widest range of retort processes of any university lab, three retorts will be used to evaluate new retort packaging materials and shelf-stable food formulations, conduct pilot tests for food and pet food companies, study the effects of retort processes on food products, and train students and industry personnel on the latest retort processing equipment and software, Clemson stated.

“Research and testing performed in our lab affects the quality of the shelf-stable food that people eat every day, whether it's in a can, retort pouch, plastic cup, plastic tray, or paperboard box,” said Dr. Scott Whiteside, Professor in the Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences Department at Clemson University and the Lab’s founder, director, and process authority. “We help our commercial clients find the optimum sterilization processes and recipes for their low acid shelf-stable foods as well as research new formulations and retort packaging opportunities. These new retorts take the lab to an unmatched level of research, testing, and training capabilities.”

“STOCK has been a supporter of Clemson thermal processing research even before the lab opened in 2008,” added Tim Schurr, vice president and general manager of STOCK. “Our relationship has always been mutually beneficial. STOCK customers receive exceptional pilot testing and training services, while the lab gains access to a stream of companies wanting the best research and pilot-testing. When we learned lab management desired to refresh and expand its capabilities, we said we could help not only with donated equipment, but also with a new thermal processing innovation ImmersaFlow. 

ImmersaFlow retorts heat densely packed retort baskets by channeling flow of hot water through the basket from top to bottom. The ImmersaFlow process focuses on heated water within the basket for a more uniform heating profile than any other process available. Target temperature is acquired faster based on an engineered directional flow design. Shorter processing time improves quality for a like-fresh sensory experience and results in lower overall energy consumption. Cooling, like heating, is reduced by the focused flow of water, which means overall cycle time reductions for improved asset utilization. ImmersaFlow offers lab research personnel a tool for entirely new avenues of inquiry.

In addition to an ImmersaFlow pilot retort, STOCK donated a multi-mode PR (pilot retort) 900 to give the lab the utmost in versatility. The PR 900 multimode retort is an all-in-one unit simulating the most frequently applied sterilization processes, including agitation, immersion, partial immersion, saturated steam, and steam water spray. This is the first time the lab has had this range of thermal processing capabilities. It means that companies coming to the lab for test runs and the doctoral and post-doctoral researchers can easily compare different processes and packaging.