New freezer technology creates quick-frozen produce
The system drops freezing time from 10 to 15 minutes down to a mere seven minutes and provides quick energy savings.
Established in 1919, Smith Frozen Foods processes private-label frozen vegetables including peas, corn, carrots, lima beans and garbanzo beans. Gordon and Sharon Smith own the business, and for Gordon, a former US senator, the business has been a family affair for four generations.
FPS Pulse Flow IQF freezer
The FPS Pulse Flow IQF freezer quickly freezes cut corn at Smith Frozen Foods in Weston, OR. Source: FPS. Located in Weston, OR, Smith Frozen Foods prides itself on preserving the freshness of the vegetables it processes, and because it is located right in the growing region, vegetables like peas can go from field to freezer within two hours. The company processes more than 130 million pounds of vegetables annually.
In 2014, Smith Frozen Foods embarked on an ambitious, multimillion dollar modernization project led by its president, Gary Crowder. “The overhaul of the facility included replacing much of [our] aging equipment with industry-leading freezing technology,” recalls Crowder.
A freezer is not an off-the shelf piece of equipment; each is designed to address the specific needs of the producer. For Smith Frozen Foods, increasing industry demands for food safety, hygiene and sanitary conditions are paramount. With zero-tolerance for any contamination, the producer wanted equipment that not only increased capacity, but also surpassed the highest hygiene standards.
To meet its specialized requirements, Smith Frozen Foods decided to engage FPS Food Process Solutions for the freezer units. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, FPS manufactures all its equipment in house and has installed freezer systems throughout North, Central and South America. It worked with the Smith Frozen Foods team to ensure all the processor’s unique needs were met.
Among the new installations are two state-of-the-art, ammonia-based freezer tunnels. These 88-foot-long structures freeze peas, carrots, lima beans and other foods as they pass through on a conveyor belt. The internal motor-free design and SynchroSD defrost system ensure the FPS Pulse Flow IQF freezers are easy to clean, durable and hygienic. Constructed with welded stainless steel enclosures, they are seamlessly welded inside and outside, eliminating harborage points for bacteria and the need to constantly maintain caulked joints.
Crowder is enthusiastic about the new tunnels. “They are the most hygienic in the industry,” he says. He has proudly erected a sign to that effect in his facility.
The freezers were specifically designed for delicate fruits and vegetables. The PulseFlow technology was developed through many years of research and feedback from FPS customers. With uniform fluidization and cooling across the belt, the PulseFlow freezers provide high yield, efficiency and quality.
In addition to being hygienic, the freezers are more efficient. With the installation complete, Smith Frozen Foods is looking to significantly increase output and realize substantial energy savings. The FPS freezers will drop the freezing time from 10 to 15 minutes to a mere seven minutes. “This will almost double the amount of food that can be processed each day,” says Crowder. “Our goal is to provide cleaner produce and reduce energy usage by 2 million kW per year.”
For more information: Justin Lai, 604-232-4145, sales@fpscorp.ca.
Slim Profile CIP System
Consistent quality cleaning within a tight time frame is a concern of all food processors. Given the size of tunnel and spiral freezers, manual cleaning is time consuming and produces inconsistent results. The FPS slim profile CIP system can be retrofitted into existing tunnels, low tension spirals and self-stacking spirals to address all sanitary concerns. With efficient performance and recirculating cleaning cycles, freezers are effectively cleaned after every shutdown and ready to operate after the CIP cycle.
FPS to attend Atlanta Expo in 2014!
FPS will be present at the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), from January 28 to January 30, 2014, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA at the Georgia World Congress Center. We will be exhibiting at booth #3811, so please stop by and say hello!
FPS announces new partnership!
FPS will be working with New Zealand based Freezing Solutions Ltd in the development of its newest product line, the CF MultiPass Carton Freezers. Freezing Solutions Ltd is owned and operated by Raph Engle, the inventor of the carton freezers in the 1960s. With Freezing Solutions' patented Continuous Flow (CF) and MultiPass technologies, the traditional carton freezers have been developed with higher efficiency and lower operating costs. The integration of FPS' hygienic design along with the CF technology creates an innovative solution for a diverse range of products from pouches, ready meals to boxed products.
"This partnership is a natural fit as we can incorporate many of our hygienic features into the traditional carton freezer concept. Along with Raph Engle's experience and engineering expertise, the CF freezer will provide FPS with a complete line of freezing solutions," said by Jeffrey Chang, President of FPS.
FPS introduces PulseFlow IQF Technology
FPS introduces its PulseFlow IQF freezer, the latest in fluidization technology. Designed for bulk handling of products such as vegetables and fruits, the freezers are carefully tailored for each specific range of products. With gentle handling of the product and controlled fluidization, the PulseFlow IQF ensures consistent product quality and yield.
Integrated with FPS' hygienic design philosophy, the freezers are the first IQF tunnels to be internally motor-free—all fan motors, drive motors are mounted external to the freezer enclosure. The freezers are designed with a range of belt widths and configurations for freezing capacities of 1,000 kg/hr up to 25,000 kg/hr.