Machinery for the food industry
The food industry is mainly comprised of different processes and equipment relating to food processing, production, handling, preserving, packaging, and delivery. These processes involve and require different machines and equipment to tackle handling, preparation, cooking, storing and packaging food and food products.
These machines increase the palatability, consumability, and digestibility of food products and increase their shelf life. These food processing and food industry machines are categorized with different classification channels, such as production forms and features, mode of operations and application in different scenarios or different food products.
Some basic functions with respect to the application of food industry machines include preparation channel; which further categorized into raw material categorization and preparation for further process, chemical, and mechanical processing, separating desirable material from low-quality raw material, and then final preparation of food products.
Different machines like Washing systems, Sterilizers, Magnetic separators, Screening separators, Stationary/rotating blades, Carborundum abrasive rollers, Conveyors and furnaces, etc. are used in the preparation channel.
Mechanical Processing channel
The next function is the Mechanical Processing channel; which involves some machines related to reducing, enlarging, homogenizing, and changing the physical state of solid, semi-solid or even liquid state of food material. This way, manufacturing processes get smooth and the efficiency and edibility of food products could be raised.
The machines used for this purpose include Pressure mills, Attrition mills, Jaw crushers, Roll crushers, Slicing machines, Meat grinders, and Non-thermal extruders, Refrigerated extruders, High-speed agitators, Tableting equipment, Anchor mixers, Turbine mixers, Diffusive mixers, Convective mixers, and Drum blenders, etc.
Next in the row is the heat processing channel; includes heating food materials causing physical, chemical, biochemical and biological changes in food products. These changes might help in transforming the quality and sustainability of food products. Machines involved in this process include Direct heating ovens, Indirect heating ovens, Batch ovens, Steam blanchers, Hot water blanchers, Convective dryers, Vacuum Dryers, and Evaporators, Condensers, In-container pasteurizers, Continuous flow pasteurizers, Roasting ovens, Continuous flow sterilizers, and Heat exchangers, etc.
Preservation channel
The next processing channel in the food industry is the preservation channel; involves prevention of the spoilage and preserving food at large. Preservation methods vary with respect to its application and material to preserve. Some common methods involve refrigeration and irradiation.
Chemicals used for these purposes include acetic acid, sorbic acid, and benzoic acid. Common machines used for these purposes involve isotopes and electron accelerators, Mechanical refrigerators, Cryogenic systems, Convective dryers, Contact dryers, Evaporators, and Condensers.
Packaging channel
The next process involves the packaging channel; which is liable for the final product version and accomplishes the food processing process. The packaging channel performs several functions including containment, protection, preservation, convenience, and communication. Some common machines include Volumetric Fillers, Net-weight/Gross-weight Fillers, Seamers, Form-Fill-Seal (FFS) Systems, and Check weighers.
Not only these but some more machines are also involved in food processing and handling industry, including Conveyors Systems, Fluid Transport Devices, Cold Storage Rooms, Palletizers, Stretch and Shrink Wrappers, Cleaning in Place (CIP) systems, and various material handling equipment. These machines are utilized in different food industry sectors and food storage industries.
