N2GEN: Nitrogen Generators for Food Packaging Processes
Nitrogen gas has long been used in the food industry to help preserve the freshness, integrity, and quality of the delivered product. Food manufacturers often use nitrogen purging and nitrogen blanketing to displace oxygen from the atmosphere while processing or storing the food. Nitrogen gas is also used to provide a pressurized atmosphere that prevents package collapse. Using N2 gas in this way helps ensure that more delicate foods, such as chips and crackers, won’t get crushed in the bags where they’re stored. Food packaging types include: bags, bottles, cans, boxes, plastic, and cardboard containers.Traditionally supplied as bulk liquid nitrogen, today, factories are replacing bulk N2 with Nitrogen generators as a safe, efficient and cost-effective solution for reliable food-grade Nitrogen.
- Up to 99.9995% pure nitrogen on-demand
- 50-90% savings when compared to liquid bulk
- Fast payback with an average ROI of 12-14 months
- Eliminate deliveries and contracts
- Dual-bed, PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) technology
- Smart-Trak – Touchscreen control display; remote monitoring with mobile devices (select models)
- 18-24 year system life, dependent on maintenance
N2GEN Industrial Series for Food Packaging Factories
Generators are customized to deliver the exact purity and flowrate your process requires
- Tank mounted skid series
- 95-99.999% Nitrogen purity
- Flow rates up to 300 SCFH*
- Duplexing options are available
- Optional turnkey package includes dedicated air compressor, dryer and/or booster
- Cabinet skid series
- 95-99.999% Nitrogen purity
- Flow rates up to 2,400 SCFH*
- Duplexing options are available
- Optional turnkey package includes dedicated air compressor, dryer and/or booster
- Skid series
- 95-99.999% Nitrogen purity
- Flow rates up to 35,000+ SCFH*
- Duplexing options are available
- Optional turnkey package includes dedicated air compressor, dryer and/or booster
*Flow rates dependent on nitrogen purity and pressure specifications
Nitrogen Keeps Food Fresh
Oxygen can be detrimental to food quality – it introduces moisture and deteriorates the quality of the product. Nitrogen is used to reduce the presence of oxygen ensuring freshness and a longer shelf life. Using nitrogen to purge food products of oxygen is a safe practice widely used throughout the food industry.
South-Tek’s N2GEN systems allows you to reliably create Nitrogen from thin air, in-house and on-demand.
Cost Comparison
Making the switch to Nitrogen generation removes the middleman (gas supplier) and increases factory self-sustainability. No more long-term contracts or gas delivery hassles. N2GEN systems provide meaningful cost-savings and quick ROI with a long 18-24 year system life (dependent on maintenance).
High-Pressure Bottles
Long-term Contracted Purchase
On-Going Deliveries
Rental tank fees
Plant Down Time to Switch Out Tanks
Liquid Dewar
Long-term Contracted Purchase
On-Going Deliveries
Rental Tank Fees
1-2% Daily Evaporation Rate
Liquid Bulk Tank
Long-term Contracted Purchase
On-Going Deliveries
Rental Tank Fees
1-2% Daily Evaporation Rate
STS Nitrogen Generator
One-Time Capital Expense
In-House Generation
Average ROI of 12-14 Months
Continuous Flow or On-Demand Generation
Nitrogen Benefits for Food Applications
rom animal feed to gourmet delicacies, ensure food product quality with an N2GEN generator – a cost-effective alternative to high-pressure N2 cylinders or bulk liquid N2. South-Tek’s industrial Nitrogen generators are designed and built to suit each customer’s unique needs with the exact purity and flowrate your process requires.
Animal Feed Storage: The use of nitrogen gas prevents stored animal feed from going bad by reducing the oxygen level and displacing moisture. Animal feed often has a significant amount of oils in them and Nitrogen is used to protect the feed from going rancid, allowing for a longer shelf life. Nitrogen is also used during the packaging process to open up the bags prior to being filled.
Edible Oils: Whether refined or not, all oils are sensitive to heat, light, and exposure to oxygen. Oils become rancid under these conditions, which affects the taste, smell and clarity of the oil. Nitrogen is used for blanketing, purging and to fill the head space of the bottle.
Food Packaging: Manufacturers often use nitrogen purging or MAP (Modified atmosphere packaging) to displace oxygen from the package before sealing it closed, in addition N2 provides a pressurized atmosphere that prevents package collapse.
Food Processing: Nitrogen gas preserves taste, texture, and color during food processing by preventing oxygen from reaching the food and maintaining freshness.
Food Storage: By creating a storage atmosphere that carefully controls the oxygen and humidity levels, apples, pears, oranges, and other produce can remain fresh and crisp much longer, because the ripening process will be significantly slowed.
Smart-Trak Mobile Monitoring and Management
A powerful software/user interface, Smart-Trak offers unprecedented control and testing capabilities for the end-user. Smart-Trak allows you to access information such as equipment runtime, time in air bypass mode, current system status and maintenance reminders. Remotely monitor and manage your nitrogen generator from any mobile device.
