StarContact

The product is transported on a micro-thin continuous food grade polyethylene film and is cooled using a low temperature refrigerant that is pumped through the freezer plate. This is connected to a mechanical "closed-circuit" refrigeration system that normally operates at –40°C and can use either primary or secondary refrigerants.

The underside of the product immediately starts to freeze and retain it’s shape upon contact. The product can now be transferred to conventional Spiral or Tunnel Freezer for final freezing down to a temperature of       –18°C

This unit can simultaneously freeze the lower product surface by contact and the upper surface by air blast, enabling total freezing down to a final temperature of –18°C, in one single operation.

Both the CFH & CFF models can be fitted with lateral guides that raise the film edge and permit the freezing of liquids and semi-solids such as Sauces and Purees.

• Operating costs – contact freezing require less energy consumption than “air blast only” systems that are equipped with high powered fans. Film consumption is minimal, this will normally around £0.003 (Euros 0.004) per Kilo of product frozen.
• Lower temperature freezing – takes place at approximately “refrigerant temperature”, not several degrees higher which is the case in air blast systems which operate on much wider air / refrigerant temperature difference.
• Cleanliness – the HDPE (High Density PolyEthilene) film that is used to transport the product is used only once, this guarantees 100% hygiene. The refrigerated plates are normally made from stainless steel (CFH) or aluminium alloy (CFF).
• Drip & dehydration losses – the CFH eliminates drip loss when the product lower surface is sealed upon contact with the refrigerated plate. The dehydration losses CFF are reduced by up to 50% as almost half of the product surface is frozen by contact. (This saving alone is normally more than enough to cover the costs of the film consumption).
• Operational periods – the CFH can run continuously for several days without a defrost as the refrigerated plate surface is constantly cleaned by the moving film. The CFF will usually run for 2 x shifts (16 hours) before the evaporator needs to be de-frosted.