A risk-based assessment considers the bag, fill, headspace, seals, product sensitivity, required lethality, load, output, water impact and downstream operations. Representative bags can then be tested at Fedegari Tech Centers before the industrial process is finalized.

Superheated water provides rapid, homogeneous heating and cooling for high-capacity loads. Comparable exposure across load positions supports consistent lethality, while shorter transitions can limit unnecessary thermal stress on the product. The load exits wet, an acceptable trade-off when output and cost per bag are the main priorities.

Steam-air becomes attractive when lower water use, reduced wastewater and utility demand or dry unloading create greater value across the line. Continuous ventilation limits stratification and stagnant areas, while dry bags can move more directly to inspection, leak detection, labelling and packaging.

As the liquid heats and cools, pressure inside the bag changes. Controlled chamber counterpressure balances these variations throughout heating, exposure and cooling, helping protect bag geometry, seals and ports from excessive swelling, deformation, leakage or rupture.

High batch capacity becomes line throughput only when loads are prepared, transferred and discharged consistently. Automated handling protects the bags and validated arrangement, while identification and tracking preserve the association between each batch, its load configuration, selected sterilization route and downstream handover.