Coffee freezing systems

In order for a complete coffee freezing conveyor for a new customer in India has further increased Sandvik Process Systems' penetration into the Asian market.

Stainless steel, belt-based processing systems produced by Sandvik Process Systems are used in virtually every type of food processing, but possibly one of the fastest growing applications is the freezing of instant food products and, in particular, coffee.

In recent years, all of the world's major instant coffee producers have installed Sandvik systems, reflecting that freezing - with subsequent vacuum drying - has proved to be the process of choice in terms of efficiency and product quality, compared with other methods that have been tried. Control temperature freezing maintains both the colour and flavour of the coffee.

Sandvik now has over 60 coffee freezing systems installed worldwide. The new installation of a complete coffee freezing conveyor in India involves a belt 1500 mm wide by 1.2 mm thick and provides a freezing length of 15 m. The new plant was commissioned late last year.

Sandvik Process Systems, a product area within Sandvik Materials Technology, has long experience in steel belt technology and contact freezing systems draw on the inherent qualities of Sandvik stainless belts. They are now regarded as the industry standard.

The hard, smooth, corrosion-resistant surface is easy to clean and ensures compliance with the strictest hygiene regulations. It also allows easy and clean discharge of the frozen product.

The use of stainless steel means low temperatures operation (down to -50°C) is possible while accommodating fluctuating temperatures during freezing and defrosting cycles. Its excellent conductivity produces fast and efficient processing. The belt is produced in an endless loop - in widths up to 2250 mm, which means that production is continuous.

The process itself is simple but effective. Coffee is fed onto the steel belt in the form of a uniform, foamy paste. It is then frozen by means of cold air blasted over the product at high velocity to produce rapid and uniform heat transfer. An automated system of air flaps guarantees quick and controlled defrosting.

The steel belt conveyor is equipped with an automatic belt tensioning system and correct belt tracking is also ensured automatically.

Sandvik Process Systems is able to design, engineer and install complete systems to meet the most demanding product requirements. They can also provide all associated equipment including belt heating, product feeding and breaking, overflow collection and calibration of layer thickness.