A state-of-the-art infra-red grilling system, installed at their Zeeland factory in the Netherlands, is helping FARMPACK to meet increasing demand for grilled vegetables used in the fast-food industries, in ready meals and in soups and sauces.
Over the years, FARMPACK has developed into the largest producer of frozen corn on the cob and soft fried vegetables in the Netherlands. Its factory has very modern processing lines for maize, onions, mushrooms and other vegetables, used in pizza and hamburger toppings and in individual quick frozen vegetable mixes. In addition to an extensive range of machines for cleaning, cutting and transporting the products, FARMPACK has also developed lines for the process of soft-fried products. However, with the increasing demand for grilled products, the company decided to invest in state-of-the-art grilling line. Having rejected the option of flame grilling, which can cause unsightly product blackening, they contacted Western Mechanical Handling (WMH UK LTD), of Cornwall, UK, a company with long experience and expertise in the design and manufacture of browning and grilling systems for the food industry.
Consequently, extensive trials were carried out by WMH using infra-red emitters from Heraeus Noblelight, who provided advice on the type and power output of the lamps. As a result, a complete grilling unit, the largest ever built by WMH, was assembled. This was eventually installed in Zeeland and featured ten carbon, twin tube medium wave emitters, 52 emitters in total. with a total power output of 78 kW, arranged in six zones to provide the required heating
The new infra-red grill line has now been operating successful for some time. As Willem Veldhoen, FARMPACK’s MD, comments, “The dry heat from grilling mushrooms and onions forms a caramelised crust, sealing all the flavour and moisture inside. This sweet and smoky flavour can’t be achieved by any other method.”
Heraeus specialises in the production and application of high-quality energy sources covering the electro-magnetic spectrum from ultraviolet to infra-red. It has over 40 years’ experience in infra-red technology and offers the expertise, products and systems to provide efficient and effective solutions to drying, heating and curing problems throughout industry.
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