British firm scoops major ice cream contract from Thailand’s minor dairy

16 September 2013

Thailand’s premier ice cream firm is investing in bespoke processing equipment from UK-based freezing and chilling system manufacturer Starfrost.

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The British firm’s double drum spiral system for Minor Dairy is the latest Starfrost freezer set to be exported to a leading food manufacturer in Thailand. In conjunction with a local agent, Starfrost has recently supplied freezing and chilling systems to Thai processors for tropical fruits and poultry.

Minor Dairy produces a variety of premium ice cream products for food service outlets across the Thai and international markets. The firm owns Swensen’s, Thailand’s largest ice cream brand, serving consumers throughout Asia.

Minor Dairy was looking for a high capacity freezing system to increase ice cream production at its processing facility near to Bangkok. The firm required an efficient in-line freezing system capable of achieving the long retention time needed to harden large containers of ice cream.

Starfrost’s UK engineering team has custom designed a Double Drum Helix Spiral freezer for Minor Dairy with a processing capacity of 1,500 kg/hr. The Helix Spiral features a 620mm wide stainless steel mesh product conveyor belt and two rotating drums, each with 10 spiraling tiers. The compact, modular system is 16.75m in length, has a height of 6.1m and is 6.2m wide.

The bespoke Double Drum Helix Spiral system is designed to process ice cream in 6kg plastic and paper containers, at a rate of 25 cans every six minutes. The product enters the freezer at a temperature of minus 4 degrees Celsius. Each container of ice cream is then hardened to minus 25 degrees Celsius.

Starfrost Managing Director Neil Winney says: “Minor Dairy required an efficient, high capacity hardening system for large containers of ice cream. An ‘off the shelf’ in-line freezing system would simply not be capable of achieving the capacity and long retention times needed.”

He adds: “By custom designing a Double Drum Helix Spiral hardener for Minor Dairy, Starfrost was able to supply a compact and highly efficient mechanical freezing system. Cold air is circulated across the spiral belt in a unique flow pattern across all product surfaces. This is extremely efficient in extracting heat as rapidly as possible, without subjecting the product to excessive air speeds.”

The Minor Dairy Double Drum Helix Spiral freezer is served by a 170kW refrigeration plant operating on natural carbon dioxide refrigerant. This results in excellent operating efficiency, with zero environmental impact in terms of ozone depletion and global warming.
Starfrost’s Helix Spiral is designed with low maintenance, ease of hygiene and operational efficiency in mind. Its unique “Guided Flow” vertical or horizontal air circulation system ensures quick and even freezing without excessive air speeds that can damage delicate products.
The Helix Spiral is suitable for freezing and chilling food that requires medium to long retention times, such as ready meals, poultry, pizza, potato products, fish, desserts, bakery products and ice-cream. The system is available in site built and compact assembled format, with single drum, double drum and twin belt designs. Available with a range of belt sizes and tier heights, it can process from 500kg/hr, to capacities over 6,000kg/hr.

The Helix Spiral has a frost tolerant design and features Starfrost’s unique air circulation technology for fast and efficient freezing with long running times between defrosts. Starfrost’s standard all-stainless steel equipment design includes framework, fully welded floor, evaporator and enclosure panels for ultimate hygiene. The Helix Spiral features a computerised touch screen HMI PLC control panel and optional CIP (Clean in Place) automated sanitising system.

Established in 1984, Starfrost has remained a market leader in freezing and chilling technology for nearly three decades, working with food manufacturers in more than 50 countries worldwide. Starfrost’s reliable in-line systems are designed to add maximum value, boost production and minimise running costs.

For sales information, phone the Starfrost sales team on 01502 562206, email sales@starfrost.com or visit www.starfrost.com