RAY™ 2 launched at ANUGA FoodTec 2012

Higher volume freeze drying for laboratories

GEA Process Engineering will launch its new RAY™ 2 large laboratory-sized batch freeze dryer at ANUGA FoodTec 2012, in Cologne from 27 – 30 March. The RAY™ 2 provides a higher volume capability for the development and small-scale production of food products such as freeze-dried vegetables, fruits, fish and meat, and - in a special execution - delicate products such as probiotics, instant coffee, etc. The RAY™ concept ensures a short downtime between batches based on short evacuation time, effective water de-icing and quick loading of the trays.

Probiotics are very commonly freeze dried; for GEA Process Engineering they are second only to freeze dried coffee. The functionality of probiotics depends very much on the product temperature during drying. With the improved vacuum system used on the RAY™ 2, it is now possible to achieve very low drying pressures (0.1mbar) and therefore lower temperatures than were achievable in the past.

For coffee production the improved vacuum ensures that the RAY™ 2 can handle the large amount of gas created by the foamed coffee during freeze drying and, therefore, higher capacities of dried product.

The RAY™ 2 has been developed at the request of customers who wanted a laboratory freeze dried with a higher capacity. The new machine can handle sample sizes of up to 25kg, considered by laboratories to be the ideal size for product development and pre-production testing. This means that samples of about 5 to 10 kg of dried product can be produced in one batch compared with 1 - 2 kg previously. It is the most gentle and cost-effective method of freeze drying with low product temperature and high retention of aroma, taste, vitamins and other product characteristics.

Tests performed on the RAY™ 2 can easily be scaled up to full production levels as it uses industrial trays of the same size as full production models.

Key features and benefits include:

• The ability to operate at the low pressures, down to 0.1mbar needed for freeze drying probiotics (1mbar in standard version);
• The ability to handle the high gas levels associated with freeze dried coffee manufacture;
• Controlled, documented drying giving high product quality and premium prices;
• Low energy consumption, negligible product loss and outstanding reliability;
• Specification from low-cost entry level to pharmaceutical standard;
• Touch panel control;
• Automatic running with all vital parameters monitored and stored during the freeze; drying process, to provide full documentation and repeatability;
• Easy cleaning and maintenance; can be equipped with CIP and SIP if required;
• Material certificates available;
• Easy scale up to full production.

The RAY™ 2 will be on the stand at ANUGA and experienced sales and engineering staff will be on hand to demonstrate its full range of features.

Also on the stage will be the new POWDEREYE™, a new in-line powder analysis system; SPRAYEYE™ the early-warning monitoring system for spray dryers; and DRYNETICS™ that allows drying parameters to be established based on the study of one droplet of a given substance. The GEA Process Engineering stand will be located in Hall 4.1.

About GEA Niro
GEA Niro is a world leader in spray and freeze drying technology for the food and dairy industries. The GEA Niro product range includes units for R&D and full-scale production as well as complete process lines. For further information please visit www.niro.com.

About GEA Process Engineering
GEA Process Engineering develops, designs, and markets production plant equipment and processes for the dairy, brewery, food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. With sales close to EUR 1.3 billion in 2010 and 4,800 employees working in more than 40 countries, GEA Process Engineering is recognized as a world leader within liquid processing, concentration, industrial drying, powder processing & handling, emissions control, solid dosage forms & sterile products, and aseptic packaging. GEA Process Engineering is a business segment of GEA Group, headquartered in Germany. For further information visit www.geap.com.

Steve Jordan
The Words Workshop
26 Swanwick Lane
Milton Keynes
MK10 9LD

Tel: ++44 1908 695500 Fax: ++44 1908 690099
Email: steve@thewordsworkshop.co.uk
Web: www.thewordsworkshop.co.uk

All business enquiries to:
GEA Process Engineering
Gladsaxevej 305
DK-2860 Soeborg
Denmark.

Tel: ++45 3954 5454
Email: foda@niro.dk

This release was published on openPR.