Brits build tunnel for Dutch

“Platvis was recently looking to increase its capacity to process individually quick frozen fish products in 250g-1kg retail packs. It was vital that the new freezing system would provide the flexibility to process different products and ensure consistent high quality”, a statement from the company said. The HT has three, 1.4m wide conveyor belts that can be configured as a single lane or operated independently, at various speeds. This allows a variety of seafood products requiring different retention times to be processed simultaneously, says Starfrost

Re-freeze

At just over 10 metres in length, Platvis is using the HT to freeze up to 600kg/hr of fish products and the system allows the company freeze, glaze and re-freeze products as required.

Platvis technical manager Nico Kwakman says: “We were looking for a freezing system which would allow us to maintain good product quality and keep weight loss to a minimum. Starfrost’s HT has proved a very fast, effective and flexible system. It has a high freezing capacity and is more economical than other belt freezers. The HT system is performing far beyond our expectations. We have been able to significantly reduce product weight loss and obtain the highest possible yield.”

Starfrost says the HT combines the look of a fluidised bed tunnel with the controlled airflow and efficiency benefits of a spiral freezing system. Air speed within the HT can be monitored and adjusted to allow controlled chilling or freezing of light and delicate products. The HT can be supplied as a pre-assembled Starlite machine or as a larger site built system.

It can also have up to five belts, each of which can be independently operated at various speeds, allowing different products to be processed simultaneously. The HT is capable of processing from 50 to 700kg/hr depending on product type and required retention times.