VaCom Technologies, a Control System Integrators Association member, has experience working with diverse food processing facilities and has gained knowledge of the many operational challenges they face. As a refrigeration control system provider, we place an emphasis on meeting temperature requirements throughout the process while also maintaining energy efficient operation. There are many areas of opportunity for improvement in the typical refrigeration system, but one that is specific to food processing is that of the spiral freezer. VaCom has developed a solution to integrate spiral freezer control with process and refrigeration control systems to optimize operation, improve product quality, and increase throughput.

The purpose of the spiral freezer is to quickly decrease product temperature prior to transporting or placing in storage. Product travels through the spiral freezer on a belt, with the time spent in the freezing process controlled by the belt speed. The enclosed area of the spiral freezer, or box, is maintained at a target temperature, with evaporator fans operating at a defined speed to maintain air flow across product while the evaporator coils remove heat from the space.