Citrotec® has completed the delivery, installation, and commissioning of an ENET® (TASTE®) system for Vicente Trapani in Tucumán, Argentina. The new equipment is part of the plant’s modernization process and represents a significant investment by the Argentine company to expand lemon juice production with greater efficiency and reliability.

Featuring five effects and five stages, the ENET® (TASTE®) has an evaporation capacity of 40,000 lb/h and was supplied with a final stabilizer, Flash Cooler, aroma recovery system, and evaporative condenser.

Andrés González, Director and Trade Manager at Vicente Trapani, highlights the relevance of the investment for the company, which ranks among its largest investments in the past 30 years. “Not only because of the financial value, but also because of what it represents in terms of increased capacity, versatility, and reliability of our processes. It is the company’s commitment to continue growing and remain a market leader.”

According to Patrício Corral, Maintenance Manager at Vicente Trapani, the result is the outcome of work involving several departments and stages that are not always visible. “Behind this equipment are many hours of work: studies, analysis of alternatives, technical comparisons, images, projects, engineering, and, finally, the challenge of assembly and commissioning,” he explains.

For Corral, witnessing the start-up of the system also represents a milestone for the team involved. “Seeing it operating today represents enormous satisfaction, but also a great responsibility. It means having better tools to meet current requirements and prepare ourselves for the challenges ahead,” he says.

ENET® (TASTE®)

Developed for applications in the food and beverage industry, the ENET® (TASTE®) uses the principle of descending turbulent mist evaporation, which reduces the product’s exposure time to heat. The system operates under vacuum and uses high-performance, sanitary evaporative condensers.

The technology’s main advantages include:

• Reduced product exposure time to heat;
• Vacuum evaporation;
• Low steam consumption;
• Low energy consumption;
• Low fouling formation;
• Elimination of the need for a cooling tower;
• Simplified operation;
• Low maintenance and instrumentation costs;
• Stainless steel construction;
• Easy transportation and low installation costs;
• Indirect condensation, ensuring sanitary integrity.

For Citrotec®, the installation of the ENET® (TASTE®) reinforces its partnership with the Argentine citrus industry and expands the company’s presence in modernization projects and processing capacity expansion in the international market.