A contact freezer is a smart and effective pretreatment for soft and fragile products that are susceptible to deformation, damage, or sticking to the conveyor belt during the further freezing process.
Through direct contact with a cooled surface, the underside of the product develops a thin frozen crust in a very short time. This often happens within about one minute, with a crust layer of approximately 1.5 mm. The core of the product remains soft and retains its original structure.
Prevent product damage and improve product handling
A contact freezer before a spiral freezer helps make delicate products more stable as they go through the rest of the freezing process.
- Prevents soft products from sticking to the spiral freezer conveyor belt
- Reduces the risk of belt marks in the product
- Retains shape, structure and appearance
- Ensures more stable product handling during the subsequent freezing process
- Reduces product loss and increases process reliability
Lower energy consumption through controlled pre-freezing
In addition to product protection, a contact freezer also ensures a more efficient freezing process. Because the product is already partially cooled before entering the spiral freezer, the spiral freezer has to remove less heat.
- A lower required cooling capacity of the spiral freezer
- More efficient energy consumption
- A higher capacity within the same installation
- A more stable and manageable freezing process
Ideal for soft and sensitive products
Contact freezers are widely used for:
- Dough products
- Fish products
- Chicken products
- Other soft or sticky foods
The ideal preparation for your freezing line
By controllably stabilizing the product surface and pre-freezing the product, an optimal preparation for the further freezing process is created. In combination with a spiral freezer, this ensures higher product quality, less waste, and more energy-efficient production.
Van Abeelen Food Processing Technology develops belt contact freezing solutions completely tailored to your product, capacity, and production process. With expertise in freezing processes, product handling, and hygienic design, we deliver solutions that contribute to reliable and sustainable production.