Cryogenic Freezing
Faster freezing for higher product quality
Liquid nitrogen and CO₂ offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional methods of food freezing and chilling. They allow the processing of larger quantities faster, while occupying significantly less floor space.
Air Products’ Freshline® freezing solutions are designed for a variety of batch or continuous freezing processes. You’ll find that their innovative design makes them easy to clean and maintain, saving you both downtime and labour costs. Ask our experts for the best solution to meet your needs.
How does it work?
Most mechanical freezers operate around -40⁰c leading to a much slower freeze. Liquid nitrogen (LIN) freezes the moisture in the product far quicker than any mechanical freezing process. This leads to much smaller ice crystals, causing less damage to cell membranes. LIN can be utilised in freezer tunnels, batch freezers and through injection systems, where the liquid is mixed into the product itself while being mixed or formed.
Applications
Cryogenic batch freezers
Our Freshline® Batch Freezer has been specifically designed to meet the stringent needs of cookchill and cook-freeze in the catering industry. It is also ideal for food processors with batch or low volume freezing/chilling requirements, taking 20 minutes to refrigerate 100 kg of product. Both in-out and straight through versions are available.
Continuous tunnel freezing
Cryogenic equipment can run at temperatures much colder than other freezers, therefore maximum throughput for available floor space can be achieved. Tunnels can be configured in different sizes to make to most of processing space and desired throughput.
Liquid nitrogen injection (LIN-IS)
In mixing applications, LIN can also be mixed directly into hot products with a high water content to aid mixing, forming and shaping, such as burgers and plant-based food products. The Freshline® LIN-IS can be fitted on any type of mixer.
Grinding
During grinding liquid nitrogen can be used to eliminate frictional heat to help improve the throughput of mills, while also preventing the loss of flavour and aroma components in food additives, ingredients, and functional foods.
‘Try our freezing calculator to create your own customised comparison of cryogenic to mechanical freezing times’
Add in Smart Technology
Freshline® Smart Technology is an integrated service to our cryogenic freezing process, allowing you to monitor, review and interact with data from your Freshline® cryogenic freezing tunnel and liquid nitrogen tank
The technology uses the latest sensors and wireless communication technology to advise process optimisation based on advanced analytics and track key process parameters, ultimately improving product quality whilst minimizing waste and costs.
Cryogenic vs Mechanical Food Freezing
Watch our video comparing cryogenic to mechanical freezing to help you determine which is the right technology for your process.
Ask the Expert
Jahnavi Sheth
Food Cryogenics Technical Expert, UK
“How much does cryogenic freezing cost?”
The cost will vary depending on your throughput, starting and ending temperature as well as product water content. We have sophisticated food freezing sizing tools which will calculate the cost to freeze and identify the ideal technology for the process. Feel free to contact me for more information.
DSI Dantech Collaboration
Air Products and DSI Dantech have combined their Food Freezing knowledge and equipment manufacturing experience to bring the most advanced cryogenic freezing technology to the market. Together we proudly generate a cleaner future with a sustainable and reliable supply chain in Europe.
News & Views
Air Products In The Press
read our latest features in the food trade press
Innovations in Food Processing & Packaging
Winning Combinations for Food Freshness
Read About Food Innovation
Food & Drink Manufacturing
Digital Innovation for Sustainable Food Industry
Read Food & Drink Manufacturing (page 40)
Are you wondering if cryogenic freezing is right for you?
Book a free consultation with one of our experts.
Freshline® Solutions for Plant-based Foods
Our Freshline® solutions preserve plant-based products, maintaining same taste and texture as fresh, while ensuring best shelf-life. Together -with our customers- we innovate to minimize food waste and optimise costs, delivering high-quality plant-based products.
Freshline® Smart Technology
Enter the world of smart cryogenic freezing. Control and optimize your gas consumption and food manufacturing processes, anytime and anywhere.