Innocent & Christeyns: Hygienic Juice Production

Three years ago, the site in the Food Hub was merely a sandy expanse. Today, it hosts the first factory of Innocent Drinks. The journey to this point was one of pioneering, a task never done alone. Innocent Drinks found a reliable knowledge partner in Christeyns for their CIP and OPC solutions.

Since 1999, Innocent Drinks has been introducing healthy juices and smoothies to the market. Until two years ago, the originally English company did not have its own factory. From the RDM Rotterdam, the Dutch branch's former office location, plans were laid for "the Blender," aptly named for the new factory. The goals were clear: Innocent aimed to produce quality, tasty, and healthy beverages in harmony with nature. But how was this to be achieved?

Sustainable Adventure

"We didn't know that at the time," admits Josefine Treijtel, Quality Assurance Expert at Innocent Drinks. "We started from scratch. We had to find specialist parties to assist us in our sustainable journey."

Arwin Bos, Operations Coordinator at Innocent Drinks, adds, "We were looking for a partner knowledgeable in chemistry who could take care of our needs. Christeyns proved to be the right choice. They not only ensure a hygienic final result but also contribute to environmental, safety, and process optimization considerations—crucial for our company. Our dream is an emission-low chain."

Pioneering is not a solo journey

From left to right: Josefine Treijtel, Arwin Bos, and Maurice van Zielst

Finding the Right Partner

It sounds like a perfect 'blend.' "Absolutely!" asserts Arwin. "Christeyns has expertise and helped us get off to a good start." The company supplies cleaning and disinfection agents for both CIP and OPC. Maurice van Zielst, account manager for food hygiene at Christeyns, shares, "The Blender is equipped with four off-the-shelf machines for filling. These are small factories in themselves, with integrated cleaning processes, complete with guidelines and validations. We provide the necessary chemistry. For processing raw materials, Innocent Drinks uses installations for which a cleaning plan was yet to be devised. We collaborated on a 360-degree hygiene solution for optimal end results and maximum process efficiency."

Knowledge Partner

Ensuring results and safety is crucial, according to Arwin. "Hygienic design in a factory is complex. Christeyns has developed customized training, tailored to our processes and products. This makes it very recognizable for our employees."

"This is definitely a great value," agrees Josefine. "We essentially had to learn production from the ground up, including safety and hygiene aspects. We're still learning every day, gratefully utilizing Christeyns' expertise and experience. They're there when we need them."

Pioneering = Learning

"This is a two-way street," emphasizes Maurice. "We also continuously learn from our practical experiences. No assignment is identical. Each client has unique processes and contamination. Together, we progressively approach the best solution. These projects usually happen in phases. We deal with regulations, permits, new developments, and financial considerations. We're always looking for ways to save energy, water, and products." Maurice cites efficient dosing systems and enzymatic cleaning as examples. "Cleaning with enzymes is safer for people and the environment and prevents pipeline corrosion, extending equipment lifespan. Another advantage is that enzymes directly purify wastewater, benefiting wastewater disposal. Our solutions are interconnected, hence our integrated approach. An example is our collaboration with Remitack for collecting and recycling IBC containers and barrels, ensuring responsible, sustainable disposal of waste streams for Innocent Drinks."

Moving Forward Together

Innocent Drinks is currently trialing drumtainers as an alternative to separate drums of liquid cleaning agents on pallets. Maurice explains, "This simplifies transport and enhances safety, as we're using a closed, spill-proof system. It eliminates the need for a pallet truck, reducing accident risks. We're also developing a solution to replace the riser pipe coupling with a CDS quick coupling, preventing vapor and liquid release during connection or disconnection. At the customer's request, we've also integrated an empty signal with the CDS. Together, we keep finding new solutions."

www.innocentdrinks.nl
www.christeyns.com

Photos ©DCI media