China’s WakeFresh chooses Quintus press for unmatched throughput and reliability

A model QIF 600L high pressure processing (HPP) press from Quintus Technologies will support the ambitious expansion plans at China’s rapidly growing WakeFresh. In just five years the company has rapidly become the country’s largest HPP ready-to-drink product manufacturer. Reflecting this rapid growth, the next-generation Quintus press – the world’s largest HPP system – sets new standards in productivity, delivering unmatched throughput, high reliability, and lower per-unit costs for the dynamic Shandong Province-based beverage processor.

With its wide assortment of premium HPP fruit and vegetable juices and cold brew teas already enjoying broad popularity across China, WakeFresh is upgrading its operations to accommodate the demand.

“WakeFresh is currently the largest HPP ready-to-drink product manufacturer in China, and we are facing strong order growth alongside capacity constraints,” relates Tommy Tang, Executive Vice Dean of the WakeFresh Innovation Research Institute. “Based on R&D and intelligent manufacturing, WakeFresh has laid out three strategic production bases in Shandong, Anhui, and Chongqing, with a total construction area of 160,000 square meters. WakeFresh is investing in HPP equipment with high safety standards and large production capacity.

“Quintus has extensive experience in HPP equipment manufacturing,” Mr. Tang continues. “The QIF 600L delivers unparalleled production efficiency and will help WakeFresh become one of the world’s largest HPP factories with the highest production capacity and highest standards.”
High Pressure Processing is a non-thermal food preservation method that uses high isostatic pressure to inactivate foodborne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms. By using cold water and pressure rather than heat, HPP extends shelf life and ensures food safety while maintaining fresh taste, texture, and nutritional quality.

The QIF 600L has a processing capacity of 4,150 kg (9,140 lbs) per hour. Its 47 cm (18.5 inch) pressure vessel diameter, the largest in the industry, offers a 600-litre cycle capacity for improved load efficiency. Built for operational excellence, it combines advanced design and smart monitoring to maximize uptime, streamline operations, and support high-volume production with consistent quality.

In addition to the press’s unmatched productivity and cost benefits, WakeFresh selected to partner with Quintus because of its best-in-class service program, Quintus® Care. Backed by “a professional team in China that provides comprehensive support,” notes Mr. Tang, WakeFresh’s five-year Quintus Care agreement ensures a smooth turnkey installation, application support, high availability of spare and wear parts, and prioritized technical support. It also includes annual press inspections, training, and recertification of WakeFresh personnel to maintain and elevate their skills.

Through long-term collaborations between industry, academia, and research institutions, including China Agricultural University and Shandong Agricultural University, WakeFresh will in the future continue to uphold the corporate mission of “more natural, more nutritious, and fresher,” with the vision of “becoming a leader in the HPP health drink industry,” relying on scientific and technological empowerment and ingenuity to create a road of trust from China’s pastoral to the global table, and write a new chapter for Chinese health drink enterprises to go global.

“WakeFresh’s rapid growth and leadership in China’s HPP beverage market clearly demonstrate the strong momentum behind high pressure processing globally,” says Johan Hjärne, CEO of Quintus Technologies. “The selection of our QIF 600L – the world’s largest HPP press – reflects WakeFresh’s commitment to operational excellence, reliability, and sustainable growth. We are proud to support their continued expansion and ambition to set new benchmarks for premium HPP beverages in China.”

The press will be installed at the WakeFresh site in Anhui Province in April 2026.

A pair of Quintus Technologies High Pressure Processing (HPP) systems will begin operation in Yiqing Food’s new beverage facility in Danjiangkou, Hubei province, China, later this year. Manufactured at Quintus’s state-of-the-art facility in Sweden, the presses are part of a customised turnkey solution provided by liquid packaging expert Jiangsu Newamstar Packaging Machinery Co., Ltd., with both presses scheduled for handover in Fourth Quarter 2023.

Focusing on integrated solutions for smart factories making liquid products, Newamstar selected the Quintus press model QIF 400L-6100, which features a very large vessel diameter of 18.5-inch (47 cm), for its high capacity, reliability, and lower per unit production cost. Each press will perform 10 cycles per hour to meet Yiqing Food’s target of 18,000 bottles of fresh juice per hour.

High Pressure Processing is the ground-breaking food safety technology that uses pressure instead of chemicals and heat to inactivate dangerous foodborne pathogens without compromising the quality or taste of the end product. HPP significantly extends refrigerated shelf life, producing preservative-free foods and beverages that retain their full nutritional benefits.

Yiqing Food, a state-owned food conglomerate, is one of the largest domestic soft drink producers in China. Its new modern and highly automated plant in Danjiangkou includes a premium juice production line that integrates high pressure processing of its upscale mandarin orange juice.

“The Chinese market is seeing a growing demand for HPP products, as processors seek to bolster food safety and brand protection while consumers grow increasingly concerned with healthy, nutritious eating,” says James He, Newamstar’s Chief Executive Officer. “Consumers appreciate the value of fresh, high-end fruit juices and teas that undergo the HPP process, such as Yiqing’s popular mandarin orange juice, which will be made in the Danjiangkou facility.”

The global leader in high pressure technology, Quintus has long been active in the Chinese market, supporting its customers with a well-established service operation across the APAC region. The company opened a China office in January 2018 to better serve its local customers.

The QIF 400L press family incorporates advanced features like frequency-controlled motor drives for energy conservation; “SmartPress” cloud-based press management software; fewer moving parts for reduced downtime; and easy access to all components requiring regular maintenance or inspection. The press’s wire-wound frame and cylinder design for safety and lighter weight reflect Quintus’s legacy as the HPP pioneer.

“These high-performing solutions illustrate how Quintus has maintained the lead in high pressure for almost 75 years,” Mr. He comments.“The QIF 400L presses are supported by a long legacy and meet Yiqing’s needs seamlessly. It is important for us to select the best quality equipment to meet our customers’ demanding specifications.”

“The new generation of Quintus HPP systems helps processors boost production efficiencies through high system availability and controlled service costs,” Jan Söderström, CEO and President of Quintus Technologies, points out. “We are pleased to embark on this new partnership with Newamstar and look forward to working with them as Yiquing Food continues on its growth trajectory,” he concludes.

State-of-the-Art Ohio (U.S.) facility helps processors accelerate product rollout

Following its recent re-entry into the high pressure processing (HPP) market, Quintus Technologies is opening a state-of- the-art Application Center in Columbus, OH (U.S.). Under the leadership of Ngoc Phan, globally recognized as one of the world’s most experienced HPP application experts, the Center will assist food and beverage processors with the development of the preservative-free, ‘good-for-you’ products demanded by today’s consumers.

“Despite thousands of commercial HPP products currently available around the globe, one source of continued frustration to more food companies is the time involved in the realization of their new HPP products market rollouts,” observes Ed Williams, General Manager – Americas, Quintus Technologies. “A key objective of our new Application Center is to reduce those delays by putting our internal and external HPP expertise to work.”

The Center’s menu of services spans the entire HPP development process, from optimized product formulations and packaging to in-house pathogen validation, shelf-life studies, and assistance with HACCP implementation and regulatory compliance. In both scope and pace, evaluation and support offerings are geared to accelerate the speed at which processors bring new HPP products to market.

The new Application Center, part of a 5,200-sf demonstration suite, features a commercial size Quintus QIF 150L HPP modular system. Reflecting the company’s leadership role in high pressure for nearly three-quarters of a century, the press incorporates new mechanical and digital solutions such as an integrated pumping system, frequency-controlled motor drives, new smart-press functionality, and AI algorithm-based condition monitoring, all advances that improve efficiency and productivity.

The facility is also equipped with a test kitchen, microbiology laboratory, analytical laboratory, vacuum packaging machine, walk-in cooler, and freezer.

Application Center services are available to any food or beverage company wanting to advance the commercial growth of HPP foods. Processors interested in investing directly in a Quintus Technologies food system receive additional benefits through Quintus^® Care, a comprehensive program of application know-how and best-in-class aftermarket technical support, designed for industry 4.0 and factory-of-the-future connectivity.

“We are very excited about the opportunities to help the food industry address global sustainability challenges such as food waste, product recalls, and related foodborne illnesses through the HPP technology we pioneered,” says Jan Söderström, CEO and President of Quintus Technologies. “We look forward to welcoming processors to our Application Center open house planned for late April 2022.”