The new Tetra Pak® Food Technology Development Center It has opened its doors in Karlshamn, Sweden, with the goal of helping producers of fermented foods develop their technical processes, efficiently define their equipment needs, and minimize investment risk. With personalized expert support, producers will be able to take their products from prototype to commercial-scale production.
As part of Tetra Pak's product development ecosystem, this pilot plant is aimed at customers of all sizes: from startups and scale-ups developing flagship products to established food and beverage companies exploring new food categories.
A team of biotechnologists, food technologists, laboratory technicians, and line solutions experts collaborates with producers to design, execute, and analyze customized tests based on the characteristics of their microorganism strains and desired production results. This allows for optimized processes and line designs that reduce costs and increase profit potential.
The official opening took place on June 13, with the ribbon cutting by Charles Brand, Executive Vice President of Processing and Equipment Solutions at Tetra PakAttendees were able to tour the facilities, sample products under development, and learn firsthand about the center's capabilities.
Producers who partner with the center can benefit from two programs designed as testing frameworks, or select individual tests for a customized experience: the Process Evaluation program, aimed at companies looking to move from laboratory-based production to demonstration scale or seeking more efficient methods for large-scale production, and the Productivity Validation program, which supports companies with established processes that want to validate and improve their performance.
The center's modular and adaptable configuration allows clients to design customized production lines, reducing both capital expenditure and operating costs. Unlike complex bio-production systems, these solutions are designed for efficient, optimally sized, and scalable food production.
Through the center, producers can also collaborate with other Tetra Pak product development facilities in Lund to achieve desired food properties and functionalities, test different final formulations, and develop their brand or product identity to create an effective go-to-market strategy. This close collaboration accelerates time to market and improves process efficiency.
