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High-fat foods like edible fats and chocolate are typically solidified into blocks for transport and storage, commonly in 25 Kg blocks. To convert these blocks back into a usable form, producers typically place them on heated racks and/or in tanks that rely on recirculating molten material. While widely used, these processes require manual handling, time, introduce potential contamination points, and complicate segregation between batches. A more efficient, hygienic, and automated approach to re-melting or re-conditioning these materials would enable safer operations, reduce labor demands, and better support consistent, high-quality production.
We are seeking efficient and hygienic melting technologies specifically designed for edible fats and fatty materials (e.g., chocolate, cocoa liquor, hard fats) supplied in solid block form, with a melting point of approximately 40°C. The solution should accommodate a wide range of molten viscosities. The ideal approach will efficiently melt these materials, effectively minimize incidental plastic packaging contamination, prevent localized overheating, and maximize lot segregation capabilities through minimum dead volume, enabling quick, cost-effective, and safe processing.
- Friction induced melting
- Microwave/Radio Frequency (RF) heating
- Scraped surface heat echnagers
- Tube-in-shell heat exchangers
- Vibrating/oscillating plate melters
- Infrared radiant heating systems
- Localized hot spots should not exceed 10°C above the melt setpoint
- Capable of melting 10 kg blocks entering at 10°C to a discharge temperature of ~80°C
- Hygienic food-grade design
- Manages and separates incidental plastic packaging (e.g., pieces of bag-in-box material)
- Handles 3 MT/h throughput with minimal dead/recirculating volume (≤250 L for a 3 Mt/h system)
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Capabilities for automated feeding and discharge of materials
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Ability to accommodate 25 Kg solid block input
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Compact footprint to optimize floor space
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Low CAPEX; all qualifying solutions will be evaluated and ranked based on capital cost
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Operating throughput 5MT/h
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Demonstrates low energy consumption
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Water washable
- Technologies that introduce moisture or other materials to the product
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