| New System Improves Quality and Safety While Reducing Cost and Waste
LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. (January 17, 2003)—Air Products (NYSE:APD) today announced the launch of the Freshline™ Z Tunnel Freezer, a new solution that, for the first time, combines cryogenic refrigeration, indirect heat transfer and impingement technology. The result, the company says, is a product that is setting new standards in terms of cost transparency, efficiency, operational safety, freezing quality and throughput-to-footprint ratio.
One of the major inefficiencies of today's conventional cryogenic freezing tunnels is that they use an exhaust fan to balance the system. Drawing too much gas out of the freezer results in wasted refrigerant and hence, higher operating costs. On the other hand, drawing too little gas can cause gas spills, which may lead to safety issues. To enhance safety, conventional freezing tunnels are designed to extract more gas. Consequently, they either sacrifice some efficiency or require frequent operator interventions.
The Freshline™ Z Tunnel Freezer overcomes these inefficiencies because it does not require an exhaust fan. Instead, the Freshline™ Z Tunnel Freezer has an indirect freezing system that uses liquid nitrogen to cool recirculating air rather than spraying it directly onto the product. Because the liquid nitrogen is in a closed system of heat exchangers and vents, spillage is eliminated and operator intervention is significantly reduced, while the refrigeration capacity of the liquid nitrogen is fully utilized.
The elimination of an exhaust fan in the Freshline™ Z Tunnel Freezer also results in a system that's easy to control and operate. The only parameters the operator controls are temperature and belt speed. Temperatures and heat transfer coefficients are stable both over time and across the belt of the Freshline™ Tunnel Freezer, which enables consistency of freezing and product quality for a wide range of food types including seafood, meat, poultry, and frozen meals.
The indirect freezing feature in the Freshline™ Z Tunnel Freezer is further enhanced by impingement heat transfer. This combination makes it possible to use the superior freezing power of liquid nitrogen even for sensitive foods like dough products. As a separate feature, Air Products offers real-time monitoring and logging of nitrogen consumption to help improve cost-to-product allocation and provide feedback on changes of control parameters.
"When we were designing this freezer, we wanted to accomplish several goals: increase performance, reduce costs and improve safety while creating a new standard in ease-of-operation. It seemed like a tall order but we knew that it was possible. We believe that the Freshline™ Z Tunnel Freezer meets all of those goals and that our customers will see a quick return on their investment with this solution," said Dietmar Gamm, Food Group Marketing Manager. "When space is at a premium, the high-heat-transfer design of the Freshline™ Z Tunnel Freezer can help customers get the most out of their floor space. Further, they can get peace-of-mind when it comes to quality and safety, as well as process and cost control. The Freshline™ Z Tunnel Freezer has been intensively tested at several industrial customers over the last nine months, and it is fully living up to our expectations."
Customers in the U.S. can secure a special Freshline™ Z Tunnel Freezer introduction rate for purchase or lease orders placed before the end of March 2003.
Air Products has been a pioneer in the development of liquid nitrogen freezing systems since the introduction of its CRYO-QUICK® Tunnels for the fast food hamburger patty market in the mid-1960s. Over 90% of the freezers designed and commissioned by Air Products since the 1960s are still in operation. Air Products continues its pioneering spirit by supplying quality gases, equipment and technical services to the food industry around the world.
Air Products serves customers in healthcare, technology, energy, and industrial markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of products, services and solutions, providing atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials and chemical intermediates. The company is the largest global supplier of helium, electronic materials, hydrogen and select performance chemicals. Founded in 1940, Air Products is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment. With annual revenues of $5.4 billion and operations in 30 countries, the company's 17,500 employees build lasting relationships with their customers and communities based on understanding, integrity and passion. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.
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