Full Automatic Milk Processing Plant

Process Flow of The Full Automatic Milk Production Line

The AGICO milk production line is designed following an optimized process to ensure every drop of milk receives precise treatment.

1. Raw Milk Reception & Storage

Milk first enters the refrigerated milk storage tank, where it is rapidly cooled and stored at a constant temperature. Refrigerated milk storage tanks are suitable for various settings such as milk collection centers, pastures, dairy processing plants, food factories, and dairy farmers, serving the purposes of milk collection, cooling, and storage. This equipment is not only essential for mechanized milking pastures but also applicable to manual milking operations. Furthermore, it can be used to cool and store other liquid materials, effectively suppressing bacterial growth and extending shelf life.

2. Filtration & Clarification

The milk flows sequentially through a combined filter (allowing online cleaning switchover to ensure uninterrupted production) and a centrifugal clarifier/separator. This process removes visible impurities and fine insoluble particles, providing a clean liquid for subsequent stages.

The combined filter is equipped with two three-way ball valves, enabling the installation of two single-drum filters on a common base. This design allows one filter to be cleaned without shutting down the system, ensuring continuous operation. Additionally, the combined filter can also operate with a single drum by removing the shared base.

The filter employs a stainless steel filter element and a honeycomb‑style degreased cotton capable of removing particles larger than 1 μm in diameter. It is constructed with a single‑layer stainless steel welded structure, polished both inside and outside.

A vent valve is installed at the top of the filter drum. The pipe connections use expansion joints and have passed a 0.3 MPa hydraulic pressure test. The threaded plugs of the three‑way ball valves operate smoothly for opening and closing. The entire combined filter features a compact design, simple operation, and easy maintenance.

3. Preheating & Homogenization

The clarified milk is preheated to the optimal homogenization temperature of 60-65°C via a plate heat exchanger, then enters the high-pressure homogenizer. Under high pressure (16.7-20.6 MPa), fat globules are micronized to prevent cream separation in the final product and to enhance texture smoothness and digestibility.

4. Pasteurization / Sterilization (Core Process)

We offer two mainstream process paths to meet different product positioning:

Pasteurization Line: Preserves more nutrients and flavor.

• LTLT (Low Temperature, Long Time): 62-65°C for 30 minutes.
• HTST (High Temperature, Short Time): 72-75°C for 15 seconds.

UHT (Ultra-High Temperature) Sterilization Line: Achieves long shelf life.

• Treatment at 135-140°C for only 3-5 seconds instantly destroys all microorganisms.

5. Cooling

The pasteurized/sterilized milk is immediately pre-cooled in a heat exchanger by the incoming cold raw milk (regenerative cooling) and finally rapidly cooled to below 4°C (for pasteurized milk) or the required filling temperature by an ice-water system.

6. Aseptic Filling

The cooled milk is packaged by a fully automatic filling machine. Our system can be adapted to various packaging formats, such as composite bags, cartons, glass bottles, or plastic bottles. The filling process occurs in a closed or aseptic environment to minimize the risk of recontamination.

7. CIP (Cleaning-In-Place) System (Standard)

The complete line integrates an automatic CIP system, which periodically performs thorough chemical and hot water cleaning and sanitization of pipelines, tanks, and equipment interiors. This guarantees hygiene safety between production runs and meets strict quality control requirements.