An apparatus for transforming a preform into a container filled with liquid filling material includes a mold that forms a mold head, a sterilization system, a chamber that is common to a group of mold heads, an evacuation system that is connected to the chamber, and conduit lines, each of which connects a mold head to the chamber. The sterilization system sterilizes the interior of the preform while it is in sealing engagement with the mold head. The evacuation system creates a vacuum in the preform. Liquid filling material enters the preform under pressure and causes it to transform into a container.

A method for manufacturing and filling a composite can (201), the method comprising: —forming a tubular body (203) by bending a body blank (16) and bringing two opposing edges of the body blank (16) together in an end-to-end join; —sealing the join by welding a sealing strip (214) over the join, thereby forming an intermediate can (403; 503); —sealing a top opening (211) by attaching a top sealing member (227) across the top opening (211); —applying a top rim (223) to the intermediate can (403; 503) by welding an inserted part of the top rim (223) to the inner surface of the tubular body (203); —turning the intermediate can (403; 503) upside-down and placing the intermediate can (403; 503) on a conveyor (2a) with the top rim (223) resting on the conveyor (2a); filling the intermediate can (403; 503) through the bottom opening (213); —sealing the bottom opening (213) of the tubular body (203) by attaching a bottom sealing member (215) across the bottom opening (213); —turning the intermediate can (403; 503) to bring the top rim (223) in an upward-facing position; —attaching a reclosable lid (221) at the top end of the tubular body (203). The intermediate can is kept in a protective gas atmosphere from said filling of said intermediate can until said bottom opening (213) of said tubular body (203) has been sealed. An assembly line (1) for manufacturing and filling of composite cans (201) is also disclosed.

A portable packing table having a temperature-controlled work area is provided. The table defines a chamber for dry ice or like substance and has a surface on which an open-topped upright chimney is mounted for receiving a flow of conditioned air from the chamber and for defining a temperature-controlled work area therein. A fan unit is connected to the table for forcing a flow of ambient air into the chamber, and a control unit is connected to the fan unit for automatically controlling operation of the fan unit to maintain air temperature within the chimney within a set temperature range.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for storing, transporting, and using hydrogen. In some embodiments, the method may comprise (a) storing hydrogen fuel in one or more fuel storage modules; (b) transporting the one or more fuel storage modules to a vehicle fueling site, wherein one or more hydrogen fuel compatible vehicles are located at or near the vehicle fueling site; (c) loading the one or more fuel storage modules into the one or more hydrogen fuel compatible vehicles, wherein the one or more fuel storage modules are configured to be releasably coupled to the one or more hydrogen fuel compatible vehicles; and (d) decoupling the one or more fuel storage modules from the one or more hydrogen fuel compatible vehicles after the one or more fuel storage modules are depleted or partially depleted.

A packaged coffee product with oxygen dissolved therein along with milk and/or sweeteners in the sealed packaging is provided. Preferably, the pH of the product is 4.6 or greater, preferably 5.0 or greater. The coffee product may be hot or cold brew coffee and may have other gasses such as nitrogen and/or carbon-dioxide in the sealed container. Ideally, there is oxygen in both the headspace and liquid portion of the beverage in order to inhibit C. Bot growth without requiring retort processing. Preferably, the calorie count is in the range of 0.5-9 calories per ounce.

A method for packaging one or more tobacco-filled boxes (13) in a plastic bag (21) comprises the following steps of—placing the box in a vacuum chamber (3, 5) through an input (7),—closing the vacuum chamber, then evacuating the vacuum chamber and thereafter creating an over-pressure nitrogen atmosphere in the vacuum chamber—putting a bag open at one end around a rectangular guide profile (19) open at both ends, where the other, closed, end of the bag shuts off one of the ends of the rectangular guide profile,—positioning the rectangular guide profile with the end not shut off by the bag in front of a shut off output (9) of the vacuum chamber and coupling the rectangular guide profile in a gas-tight manner to the output of the vacuum chamber,—opening the output of the vacuum chamber and guiding the box into the bag via the rectangular guide profile, and—folding the open end of the bag immediately followed by the sealing of the bag. By processing the box in the vacuum chamber before a plastic bag is put around the box, it is better to create underpressure in the box and flush it with nitrogen because the box has not yet been shut off on three sides by the plastic bag in a gas-tight manner. As a result, a better atmosphere can be created in the box or the optimal atmosphere in the box can be created in a faster manner.

The present disclosure relates to an attachment unit for attaching a container element to a container body. The attachment unit comprises a retaining device adapted to retain the container body while the container element is being attached to the container body and an applicator for positioning the container element in the container body. The retaining device comprises at least one through-going positioning cavity being adapted to receive a portion of the container body. The applicator is aligned with the positioning cavity, such that the container element is displaceable by means of the applicator into the container body by moving at least partly through the positioning cavity of the retaining device. The attachment unit comprises an internal housing arranged to provide and maintain a protective gas atmosphere above the positioning cavity of the retaining device. The internal housing is adapted to at least partly enclose the applicator.

A method for packaging products in a substantially oxygen free environment. The method includes providing a containment environment with a main chamber formed by main chamber walls, gloves connected to the main chamber walls, an exhaust portion for removing ambient air, an intake portion for introducing inert gas, and selectively sealable access points for providing access into and out of the main chamber. The method includes providing a bulk product dispenser and individual bottles into the main chamber and sealing the main chamber. The method includes purging ambient air from the main chamber through the exhaust portion and filling the containment environment with inert gas. The method includes transferring a product from the bulk product dispenser to each of the individual bottles and sealing the bottles.

To reduce an amount of use of a replacement gas used for replacing air in a container. A gas replacement system includes: a washing machine that washes the container with water; a filling machine that fills the container with a content fluid; a sealing machine that seals the container transferred from the filling machine; a chamber that covers the filling machine and the sealing machine, and contains a replacement gas; and a water discharge mechanism (washing machine) that discharges the water in the container having been carried into the chamber while containing the water out of the container in the chamber. The water in the container is replaced with an ambient gas in the chamber along with the discharge of the water.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for storing, transporting, and using hydrogen. In some embodiments, the method may comprise (a) storing hydrogen fuel in one or more fuel storage modules; (b) transporting the one or more fuel storage modules to a vehicle fueling site, wherein one or more hydrogen fuel compatible vehicles are located at or near the vehicle fueling site; (c) loading the one or more fuel storage modules into the one or more hydrogen fuel compatible vehicles, wherein the one or more fuel storage modules are configured to be releasably coupled to the one or more hydrogen fuel compatible vehicles; and (d) decoupling the one or more fuel storage modules from the one or more hydrogen fuel compatible vehicles after the one or more fuel storage modules are depleted or partially depleted.