FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10 July 2012
Radical Waters International Ltd., has been granted a significant new beverage patent. This is a milestone in the use of Radical Waters’ cutting edge green ECA (electrochemically activated water) technology in the Beverage Industry and increases Radical Waters already extensive patent portfolio. The beverage patent has been granted in the USA with numerous patents pending in most countries with beverage production facilities. Radical Waters expects these patents to be granted in the near future.
The beverage patent referred to pertains to the use of ECA in the manufacturing, processing, packaging and dispensing of beverages. In particular it refers to the use of ECA solutions during Cleaning-in-Place (CIP), a cleaning regime used in all beverage facilities. This cleaning regime is used during production when changing from one product to another or in terms of specific times to eliminate the growth of harmful bacteria. CIP typically involves various cleaning and sanitising processes.
Previously, beverage plants would use traditional chemicals at high temperatures to clean and sanitise to achieve similar results.
Traditional chemical CIP steps would involve: a rinse followed by application of a detergent, followed by a rinse, followed by application of a disinfectant, followed by a further rinse, all of which require significantly more time than cleaning with Radical Waters’ solutions.
Philip Nel, Technical Manager at Radical Waters explains, “Lost production time equals money and as a result CIP has always been viewed as somewhat of a costly ‘grudge activity’. In order to perform a standard CIP cycle using conventional chemicals in a beverage plant, it is common to use a 5 step program which can take up to 90 minutes or more to complete”
By replacing traditional chemical CIP and instead making use of Radical Waters’ green ECA detergent and disinfectant solutions for CIP, the intermediate rinse steps are completely removed, reducing cleaning to a 4 step process with a considerable reduction in the loss of valuable production time. This is a huge benefit in that it saves a great deal of time, energy and water for the bottler resulting in greater profits.”
Some of the challenges faced in the beverage industry include the likelihood of microbial contamination and the potential for product spoilage and deterioration as well as product quality compliance.
Conventional measures to address these challenges include the use of heated solutions, the use of high pressures and differing flow rates as well as extended exposure times of high concentrations of caustic detergents and other potentially hazardous biocidal chemicals and compounds.
The Radical Waters ECA beverage patent addresses these concerns. The benefits of the invention include amongst others:
· Microbial decontamination
· Reducing or completely eliminating the need for costly and harmful chemicals
· Eliminating the need to heat the chemicals resulting in significant energy savings
· Elimination of pesticide contaminants
· Significant water savings in most beverage plants
Application of Radical Waters ECA technology at a world leader in the brewing industry achieved the following cost savings: Water reduction of 83%; Time reduction of 43%; Energy reduction due to cleaning at ambient temperature of 98%; Chemical cost reduction of 99%.
In contrast to traditional chemicals, Radical Waters ECA solutions are produced at a neutral pH, i.e. neither too acid nor too alkaline, which makes them completely safe when in contact with humans and as an effluent in the environment. The solutions can be used without any requirement for safety or protective gear.
Radical Waters Chairman, Dion Friedland comments, “Radical Waters’ 15 years of research and practical application of ECA technology has resulted in Radical Waters being granted this extremely important beverage patent which will have enormous impact on the beverage industry world-wide. Radical Waters already has numerous ECA device installations in leading multi-national beverage plants in 23 countries including the USA, China, Germany, France, Japan, the Philippines and many countries in Africa.”
Carla Fiford, Managing Director, Radical Waters says, “One of the most appealing aspects of our technology is that it is a green technology. It significantly reduces water usage and eliminates the reliance on harmful chemical detergents. What once may have been a distant strategic goal for an environmentally conscious company has now has become a cost saving reality. The beverage market has responded extremely well to ECA and the granting of our patent should convince those sitting on the fence of the validity of our ECA technology. We are gearing up for increased business from the beverage industry.”
The patent abstract summarizes the patent as follows: A system using electrochemically-activated water (ECAW) for manufacturing, processing, packaging, and dispensing beverages. The system uses ECAW solutions in the beverage facility clean-in-place system to achieve improved microbial control while greatly reducing water usage and reducing or eliminating the use of chemical detergents and disinfectants. Please visit patent site for more information:
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“Our vision is to become the preferred replacement for chemical cleaning and disinfection by making Radical Waters ECA technology and service available worldwide,” concludes Fiford, “These patents help lead the way.”
For more information please visit www.radicalwaters.com or follow us on face book www.facebook/radicalwaters.
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Radical Waters (Pty) Ltd has spent 15 years focused on developing and commercializing its patented green ECA technology. The company has installed operating devices on six continents and in 23 countries primarily for blue chip companies. Radical Waters’ products are used in a wide range of markets formerly dependent on chemicals for controlling contamination and bacterial infection. The company has a focus on markets that include beverage production, meat & seafood, sauce manufacture, milling & starch and hospitality. Radical Waters (Pty) Ltd produces devices in its factory in Johannesburg, South Africa. Radical Waters International (UK) LLP in London is responsible for international distributor relationships.
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Issued for: Radical Waters South Africa (Pty) Limited
Contact: Nikki Frieslaar: Operations Manager: +27 11 466 0610
Fax No: +27 11 466 0114
Email: Nikki@radicalwaters.com
Website: www.radicalwaters.com
Date: 10 July 2012