The Eindhoven-based firm said it has developed the pack for semi-liquid food and it is designed for the on-the-go baby food market. The pack includes a milk powder dispenser, spring water and a ‘baby nipple’.
In a statement, the firm said: “Contrary to existing self-heating packaging, mainly metal beverage cans with pre-mixed coffee or tea, this self-heater has a separate chamber/dispenser in which the milk powder is stored, while the heating-element is located at the bottom of the largest chamber, which holds the spring water.
“In other words it isn’t a pre-mixed product as the ingredients (vitamins and milk powder), are stored separately from the spring water, staying dry till the moment of consumption, maintaining the ‘power’ of the supplements.”
How it works
According to Aestech, the packaging consists of four compartments or chambers. The top compartment (or dispensing chamber) with the activation button holds the dry matter (milk powder and vitamins) and is sealed airtight with a foil.
The space between the dispensing chamber and the heating element is the compartment which holds the to-be-heated liquid – the spring water. The heating element is fully immersed in the to-be-heated liquid to guarantee an intensive contact between the liquid and the element and to prevent a direct contact with the heating element by the consumer, the firm said.
The heating element itself is filled with a certain quantity of calcium oxide that thermally reacts with water to calcium hydroxide heating up the element.
The water needed for this exothermal reaction is located in the tube, which runs from the heating element to the activating button at the top of the packaging.
The heating element heats up and the heat is transferred to the milk powder/water mix around the heating element.
Aestech said that after approximately two minutes and a bit shaking of the packaging the baby formula has reached the appropriate temperature of 37oC (100oF), the nipple can be put in place and the baby or toddler can be feed its meal.
