High-Intensity UV-C Tunnel Sterilizer for Transparent Food
Packaging
This High-Intensity UV-C Tunnel Sterilizer is purpose-built for continuous, high-speed surface disinfection
of transparent food packaging materials, including films, trays,
cups, lids, pouches, and bottles.
Production Line Composition
- Infeed Conveyor Belt - stainless steel wire mesh or PTFE belt, width customizable from
300 mm to 1,800 mm
- High-Intensity UV-C Irradiation Chamber - 4 to 24 high-power mercury or LED UV-C lamps with 254 nm
wavelength, optimized reflection system
- Dual-Sided Sterilization Option - upper and lower lamp arrays for simultaneous top and bottom
surface treatment
- Air Knife or Ionizing Blower (optional) - for dust and static removal before sterilization
- Exhaust & Cooling System - forced air or liquid-cooled design for extended lamp life
- PLC Control Cabinet - industrial-grade programmable controller with 10″ touchscreen
HMI, 100+ recipe storage
- Real-Time UV Intensity Monitoring System - sensors with feedback control, low-intensity alarm
- Outfeed Conveyor - with product counting and optional automatic stacking unit
All product-contact surfaces are constructed from SUS304 food-grade
stainless steel, fully compliant with food and pharmaceutical
industry sanitation standards.
Technical Parameters
| Parameter | Value / Range |
|---|
| Sterilization method | 254 nm UV-C germicidal irradiation (chemical-free, residue-free,
low-heat) |
| Effective belt width | 300 / 500 / 800 / 1,000 / 1,200 / 1,500 / 1,800 mm (customizable) |
| Conveyor belt speed | 0.5 - 25 m/min (inverter controlled, stepless adjustment) |
| Belt material | PTFE mesh / stainless steel wire mesh / polypropylene chain
(customizable) |
| Number of UV-C lamps | 4 - 24 pcs (independent control per zone, customizable) |
| UV wavelength | 254 nm (peak germicidal) - 265-280 nm range available with LED
option |
| Peak irradiance | 5,000 - 30,000 µW/cm² (customizable) |
| UV dose per pass | 20 - 250 mJ/cm² (adjustable via conveyor speed and lamp power) |
| Sterilization efficacy | ≥99.9% (3-log) / ≥99.99% (4-log) / >5-log for high-performance
configurations |
| Cooling method | Forced air cooling (standard) / water-cooled (optional for 24/7
operation) |
| Power supply | 110V / 220V / 380V / 400V / 460V, 50/60Hz, single-phase or 3-phase
(customizable) |
| Control system | / Delta PLC with 10″ HMI touchscreen, recipe storage (100+ recipes) |
| Data logging | USB / Ethernet / RS485 Modbus, real-time intensity recording |
| Safety features | Door interlock (zero-leakage design), emergency stop, intensity low
alarm, lamp failure alert, motion sensor |
| UV lamp lifespan | Mercury lamps: 8,000-10,000 hours / LED-UV modules: ≥20,000 hours
to L70 (customizable) |
| Housing material | SUS304 / SUS316L food-grade stainless steel (product-contact areas) |
| Protection rating | IP54 (standard) / IP65 / IP67 (customizable) |
| Compliance | CE, ISO9001, FDA food-contact compliant, ATEX optional |
Applications
- Flexible packaging films - transparent polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), PET, PLA
films for flow-wrap, form-fill-seal (FFS), and vertical
form-fill-seal (VFFS) applications
- Thermoformed trays and clamshells - food trays for fresh produce, meat, seafood, bakery,
ready-to-eat meals
- Rigid containers - plastic cups, pots, tubs, jars for dairy (yogurt, cream),
desserts, spreads, and prepared foods
- Lidding films and foil covers - transparent lids for MAP (modified atmosphere packaging)
applications
- Pouches and stand-up bags - pre-sterilization before filling
- Pharmaceutical blister packs - surface treatment of transparent packaging
- Cosmetic containers - tamper-evident seals and primary packaging
Customization Options
- Customizable belt width - from 300 mm (small cups) to 1,800 mm (wide film webs)
- Customizable number and arrangement of UV-C lamps - single-side (top or bottom), dual-side (upper + lower), or
angled configuration
- Customizable belt speed range - from 0.2 m/min for high-dose applications to 30 m/min for
high-throughput lines
- Customizable UV dose recipe programming - match dosage precisely to packaging thickness, transparency, and
target pathogen
- Customizable lamp technology - mercury (cost-effective) or LED-UV (instant on/off,
mercury-free, lower heat)
- Customizable cooling configuration - forced air for standard duty, water-cooled for 24/7 continuous
high-temperature operation
- Customizable control system - manual (basic) to fully automatic PLC with MES/ERP integration,
remote monitoring, and audit trail logging
- Customizable voltage and power supply - for any global location (110V to 460V, 50Hz or 60Hz)
- Customizable conveyor height and infeed/outfeed sections - seamless integration with existing filling, sealing, and
packaging lines
- Optional 360° reflection enhancement - extended lamp housings with polished aluminum reflectors to
treat hard-to-reach internal surfaces
Key Features
- High-intensity UV-C output - industry-leading irradiance up to 30,000 µW/cm² for rapid
microbial inactivation
- Uniform irradiation - high-reflectivity aluminum reflector system eliminates shadow
zones; 6.9 log CFU reductions achievable
- Non-thermal, chemical-free operation - preserves food quality and safety, no residual chemicals or heat
distortion
- Dual-sided sterilization (optional) - simultaneous top + bottom treatment for transparent trays and
open containers
- Real-time UV intensity monitoring - continuous feedback with alarm alerts for maintenance
- Recipe management - store up to 100 sterilization profiles for different packaging
materials
- Energy-efficient design - inverter-driven conveyor, high-efficiency lamps, standby
power-reduction mode
- Easy cleaning and maintenance - swing-open access doors, tool-less lamp replacement, removable
belt sections
- Full data traceability - USB/Ethernet export of sterilization logs (intensity, speed,
dose) for quality assurance
- Fail-safe safety system - door interlock + motion sensor + zero-leakage design for
operator protection
- Modular construction - add or remove lamp modules, expand tunnel length, or upgrade
lamp technology without replacing entire system
Support and Services
- Lifetime free technical support - phone, email, and video call assistance with dedicated engineer
- On-site installation and commissioning - engineers available for global deployment, including full system
setup and calibration documentation (IQ/OQ)
- Operator training - comprehensive on-site training for operators and maintenance
personnel (up to 5 days)
- 2-year comprehensive warranty - on UV-C lamps, control system, conveyor, and all electronic
components; extended warranty options available
- Spare parts supply - guaranteed availability for 10+ years; 48-hour express shipping
for critical components
- Preventive maintenance program - annual on-site inspection, lamp replacement planning, UV
intensity calibration, and operational audit
- Remote diagnostics - secure VPN access to PLC for real-time troubleshooting and
software updates
- Free sterilization validation testing - send your transparent packaging samples; we provide test report
with optimized parameters
- Process optimization consulting - assistance with regulatory compliance documentation (FDA, EU,
local food safety), validation protocol development, and line
integration
Packing and Shipping
Packed in heavy-duty export wooden cases with VCI anti-rust film,
desiccant bags, and custom foam padding. Shipped in modular
sections for container loading (20ft, 40ft, or 40ft HC containers).
Includes: English manual, CE certificate, electrical wiring
diagrams, calibration certificates (UV intensity), tool kit,
complete spare parts kit (lamps, quartz sleeves, belt links,
sensors).
Shipping terms: FOB / CIF / DAP / DDP by sea, air freight, or land
transport. Lead time: 25 days for standard configuration; 35-50
days for fully customized systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can this UV-C tunnel sterilize both the inside and outside of a
transparent clamshell container in a single pass?
A1: Yes. The upper-and-lower lamp array (dual-side option)
irradiates the external surfaces from above and internal surfaces
through the transparent material from below, achieving
comprehensive, 360° coverage -- all within the same pass.
Q2: What is the typical UV dose required for a 4-log (99.99%)
reduction of common foodborne pathogens on transparent packaging?
A2: A dose of 20-40 mJ/cm² generally achieves 4-log reduction for
susceptible organisms like E. coli and Salmonella. More resistant
pathogens may require 50-80 mJ/cm², while highly resistant spores
can need 100-200 mJ/cm². Our systems provide adjustable dose
control to accommodate these varying targets.
Q3: How does UV irradiation differ in effect between transparent
and opaque printed packaging areas?
A3: Printed ink areas have reduced UV-C transmission. We recommend
placing lamp arrays to preferentially treat transparent zones,
extend dwell time, or configure higher-intensity emitters to
compensate -- all achievable via customizable recipe adjustments.
Q4: Does the sterilization tunnel produce any harmful ozone?
A4: The optional 185 nm ozone-generating lamps can be entirely
bypassed or excluded; our standard 254 nm UV-C lamps produce no
significant ozone. Optional ozone-free lamp configurations are also
available upon request.
Q5: What is the standard lamp replacement interval?
A5: Mercury lamps provide 8,000-10,000 hours of operation; LED-UV
modules provide ≥20,000 hours to L70. The system tracks cumulative
operating hours per lamp and alerts when replacement is due.
Replacement can be performed without interrupting production line
operation (hot-swappable lamp trays).
Q6: Can the system be retrofitted into an existing production line
without major modifications?
A6: Absolutely. Conveyor height, width, control interface signals
(dry contacts, Ethernet/IP, Profinet), and infeed/outfeed conveyor
dimensions are fully customizable to match your existing line and
upstream/downstream equipment. Retrofits are typically completed
with minimal production downtime (2-4 days).
Timer Control Range 0-99min UV Irradiation Machine With Temperature Control Accuracy ±1C
