In response to food industry demands for an enclosed system that can safely transfer and cool hot food powders and mixes in one single step, Luxme International has launched the THERMOLuxme. A tubular chain conveyor with the addition of jacketed pipes containing cooling fluid, it conveys and cools material from 260°C to 43°C and can save food producers up to £300,000 by eliminating the cost and floorspace required for a separate cooling stage.
In food processing, hot materials such as powders and mixes must be cooled to ambient temperatures after baking, frying, boiling and broiling for safe handling in the next stage of the process; for example, bagging, packaging, moving, storing or loading. Cooling also delays the fermentation process, which can cause material waste due to mildew and mould growth.
Replacing a separate cooling station with the THERMOLuxme Tubular Chain Conveying and Cooling System can result in capital cost savings of more than £300,000, since no separate coolers and/or chillers are required. Further savings include a reduction in plant floorspace; lower operational costs; decreased maintenance charges; and reduced material losses from product spoilage due to mildew. Future operational cost savings can also be made due to eliminated annual rises in electrical energy fees.
As products are cooled while they are conveyed, food producers can also enjoy increased productivity thanks to shorter processing times. Plus, treated and untreated municipal water sources, or water from elsewhere within the plant, can be used as the cooling fluid, removing additional cooling energy costs.
As with all Luxme conveyors, the THERMOLuxme adheres to the highest standards of food hygiene. Comprising an enclosed, sealed pipe assembly, any gases or moisture emitted from the hot material during transfer are contained and vented through the internal pipework using either vacuum, forced air or inert gases, protecting the food and the workforce.As a result, the THERMOLuxme can safely convey and cool up to 31m3 of hot food products per hour, such as high-fat content organic powders and mixes, roasted nuts and snacks, pet food kibble and pre-cooked potato cubes/foods, at the same time as ensuring that work areas remain clean, dry and dust-free.
Available in 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10-inch diameter options, the THERMOLuxme preserves product integrity by smoothly gliding food powders through the custom-designed chain and disc conveyor without pinching or crushing. With carbon steel, stainless steel 304 or 316L low-carbon stainless steel construction, it also comes with the option to specify glycol cooling chillers for applications with high inlet-to-outlet temperature differentiation over short transfer distances.
Navam Jagan, President of Luxme International, states: “With a cooling differential of 217°Cwhile conveying product, the THERMOLuxme is designed to save food producers money and floorspace by eliminating the need for an additional cooler or chiller station. It also keeps the work area – and therefore the workforce – safe and free from dust.”
