Steriflow Food Retort Autoclaves (Static, Rotary, Shaka)

Steriflow is a French manufacturer of industrial autoclaves (retorts) with engineering and production in Roanne, part of the SFPI Group since 1992. It has close to 50 years of experience in autoclave design and over 40 years in food processing, helping food and pharmaceutical producers sterilise or pasteurise packaged products so they can be stored safely outside the cold chain.

Its food range spans vessels from 900 mm to 2,300 mm in diameter holding 1 to 12 baskets. Static models use the company's cascading superheated water process, Rotary models turn containers for products that need mixing, Dali applies gentle low-frequency agitation for milk and sauces, Shaka shakes containers at high frequency to cut cycle times, and Steristeam uses an air-steam mix. A Microflow pilot unit supports product and F0 process development. Cans, glass jars, pouches, trays and plastic containers can be processed for ready meals, sauces, soups, baby food, vegetables and pet food.

• Static retort: cascading superheated water sterilisation for cans, jars and pouches.
• Rotary retort: rotates baskets for products that need mixing during heat treatment.
• Dali: low-frequency gentle agitation suited to milk, creams and sauces.
• Shaka: high-frequency shaking with fast heat-up for much shorter cycles.
• Steristeam: air-steam heat treatment for agri-food products.
• Microflow pilot: laboratory retort for recipe trials and F0 process validation.

• Seafood canneries sterilising tuna, sardine or clam products in cans and pouches for export.
• Ready-meal brands launching retort-pouch rice dishes, curries and soups for convenience stores.
• Fruit and coconut processors producing shelf-stable purees and coconut milk in jars or pouches.

• Shorter cycles with Shaka: the company states sterilisation cycle times are reduced 5 to 10 times versus conventional methods.
• Better quality: shorter or agitated cycles limit overcooking and help keep colour, texture and flavour.
• Shelf-stable products: sterilised goods can be stored and shipped without refrigeration.
• Fast support: remote after-sales service resolves close to 90% of customer issues, according to the company.

Ready-to-eat meals, sauces, pet food and baby food in pouches and jars are growing as consumers and exporters look for shelf-stable products that do not depend on the cold chain. Vietnamese producers of canned seafood, fruit, coconut products and retort-pouch meals need validated sterilisation to meet export food safety rules.

Headquarters and factory in Roanne, France, with a trade office in Clichy; integrated into the SFPI Group in 1992. The company states it has close to 50 years of autoclave experience and a network of over 55 agents on five continents, including Asia. Shaka is a registered trademark of Zinetec UK Ltd.