System for automatic/continuous sterilization of packaging machine components

An automatic, continuous sterilization system for a form, fill and seal packaging machine, the form, fill and seal packaging machine for forming, filling and sealing packages, the machine having a turret carrying a plurality of mandrels on which the packages are carried, the packages being positioned with the mandrels inside of the packages, the machine farther having a bottom panel heating station having a reciprocating bottom panel heater, the sterilization system comprising:

• a sterilant source for supplying a sterilant;
• a sterilant inlet at the bottom panel heater;
• and
• a nozzle at the sterilant inlet for introducing sterilant to the bottom panel heater wherein the nozzle is mounted at the bottom panel heating,
• wherein packages are positioned on one of the plurality of mandrels and are indexed to the bottom panel heater, and wherein the sterilant is introduced to the mandrel at the bottom panel heating station when the carton is positioned on the mandrel, introduction of the sterilant providing a log reduction of microbial colony forming units of at least 1.4 after twenty minutes of machine operation with a sterilant concentration of less than about 3.12 percent, and wherein a surface temperature of the mandrels is maintained at a temperature that precludes condensation on the mandrels.