Tubular UHT Steriliser Versus Plate Pasteuriser

The Difference Is The Flow Path

A plate unit pushes product through a stack of thin gasketed channels. A tubular unit pushes it through concentric or shell and tube pipes. Everything else — heat recovery, footprint, cleaning behaviour, what the product can contain — follows from that one difference.

Where Plate Wins

Clear juice, milk, water-like products. Heat recovery is high, the unit is compact, and plates can be added or removed to change capacity. Gaskets are a consumable and need to be in your spares plan.

Where Tubular Wins

Purees, nectars, products with fibre, pulp or small particles, and high viscosity products. The wider channel means fewer blockages and longer runs between cleans. It takes more floor space and typically recovers less heat.

Sterilising Is Not The Same As Pasteurising

A UHT steriliser is aiming at commercial sterility for ambient storage, which means higher temperature, shorter hold and aseptic handling all the way to the filler. A pasteuriser is aiming at a chilled shelf life. Do not compare their prices as if they do the same job.

A Practical Rule

If you can see particles in the product, or you could not pass it through a fine mesh without leaving anything behind, start the conversation at tubular.