Pilot UHT System
APV® Pilot UHT Systems are compact, fully functional UHT processing systems designed for R&D, product development and scale-up trials. They enable manufacturers to simulate aseptic processing conditions on a small scale for testing recipes, refining processes and validating new formulations, all while minimizing product waste and development risk.
Small-Scale UHT System Designed for Product Innovation and Development Agility
The APV Pilot UHT System gives processors and developers a powerful, hands-on tool for exploring new product ideas, refining formulations and simulating ultra high temperature processing in a controlled environment. It replicates the performance of full-scale systems in a highly flexible, modular format.
Today’s development teams face critical challenges:
- Testing small batches without risking production downtime
- Matching lab trial results with commercial line conditions
- Scaling new products efficiently and cost-effectively
- Validating recipes for aseptic food processing standards
Why Choose the APV Pilot UHT Systems?
Our APV pilot UHT systems are built for speed, flexibility and precision, helping processors accelerate innovation, validate new recipes and reduce scale-up risk. They offer:
- True UHT performance in a compact, mobile footprint
- Multiple heating configurations: plate, tubular, injection, or infusion
- Full CIP/SIP capability for hygienic, repeatable trials
- Precise thermal control with data logging and validation tools
- Low-volume batch testing to minimize waste and reduce development costs
- Adjustable flow rates and holding times to simulate full-scale production
- Fast changeovers for multiple product trials per day
- Integrated control panel with recipe management, alarms and diagnostics
- Modular design for future expansion or reconfiguration
- Pre-assembled and factory-tested for rapid deployment
- Supported by SPX FLOW experts through our global Innovation Centers
- Backed by SPX FLOW’s worldwide service network, including training, preventive maintenance, spare parts, and remote diagnostics, ensuring long-term performance and ROI.
Distinctive Advantages
APV Pilot UHT Systems are designed for flexibility, accuracy, and scalability. They are:
- Custom-configurable to match your product type, thermal process and validation requirements
- Available with aseptic filling options for packaging and shelf-life testing
- Compatible with high- and low-viscosity products
- Built for repeatability to ensure small-scale trial data translates to full-scale production
Applications
- R&D for dairy, plant-based and beverage products
- Validation of new UHT recipes and processing conditions
- Pre-production testing of formulations before scale-up
- Operator training and demonstration runs
- Shelf-life, flavor, and stability testing under UHT process conditions
Theory of Operation
The APV Pilot UHT System mimics the thermal stages of a full-scale UHT process, offering customizable options such as:
- Preheating – Prepares the product using heat regeneration
- UHT Treatment – Delivers rapid heating up to 157°C using chosen technology (indirect or direct)
- Holdingflash chamber – Maintains sterilization temperature for precise durations
- Cooling – Reduces temperature for packaging or storage
- Aseptic Outlet (optional) – Transfers product into sterile packaging for shelf-life studies
The system supports all major UHT processing technologies, enabling processors to compare methods and optimize results before committing to commercial-scale implementation.