If you’re in the food manufacturing and packing industry, you must be familiar with how the entire food processing unit using multiple sorts of food processing machinery works to ensure that the food that stays for a long time on the shelves of department stores, supermarkets, etc. doesn’t just become spoilt but also doesn’t lose its nutritional components. So what is the role of food processing machinery in all of this? Let us now get into details.
Sometimes if your bread and buns are tasty and soft enough, people may also refer to your brand as the bread company which brings nothing but word of mouth advertising to your brand and bakery.
Here’s an overview of how to turn your passion for baking into a profession.
What is food processing machinery?
Food processing equipment or food processing machinery is a parasol term referring to the various components of the food processing unit like food processing machines and systems used to handle. The Food Processing Equipment manufacturers in India, primarily aimed at the transformation— that is, increasing the palatability, consume-ability, and digestibility— or preservation— that is, extending the shelf life of food, some Food processing machine manufacturers in India also designed their machinery in a way that they are pieces of equipment which are also employed to perform preliminary or auxiliary functions, such as handling, preparation, and packaging.
These food processing machinery employed for food products starting from bakery to beverages, dairy products, etc. requires a lot of effort from the food processing machinery and thus food processing machine manufacturers India. The food processing machine in India is available for the effective and efficient execution of the multiple and different unit operations necessary during a complete production cycle, such as washing, separating, mixing, baking, freezing, and sealing. Depending on the requirements and the demands of the operation (and the overarching food processing application), the food processing machinery can be designed and constructed as per customization to handle solid, semi-solid, or liquid food products by batch or continuously. A few other design and construction-related customization include the food-grade material used for construction, hygienic, and governmental standards, sizing, cost, and integration of automation or analytical components. Every characteristic of this can influence the performance and efficiency-effectiveness of the food processing equipment, but choosing the optimal design and construction is dependent on the specifications and requirements of the particular food processing application. Additionally, we will outline some of the things taken as consideration for designing and choosing equipment for a food processing application.
Types of Food Processing Machinery
The huge and wide range of food processing equipment available can be categorized and classified in multiple ways – for example, end-product form, mode of operation, application, etc. The food processing machine in India and the food processing machine manufacture India can be broken into multiple cycles, several stages, characterized and categorized by a specific function and during which individual unit operations are performed. During the preparation stage or initial stage, the primary function and main function are to prepare the food material for further processing, and some of the unit operations performed include washing and separating from the ingredient not needed. Few other secondary functions which provide a pillar of support to the primary functions of the production and processing cycle include material handling, system control procedures, and operations which convey food materials between process stations or maintain the required processing conditions and standards, respectively.
A few common functions by which food processing machinery are arranged in groups are:
- Preparation
- Mechanical processing
- Heat processing
- Preservation
- Packaging, etc.
Design and Selection Considerations and Customizations for Food Processing Machinery
As mentioned above, there is a huge and wide range of food processing machinery available to satisfy the multi-faceted functions which are integral to the food production and food processing industries. Individual pieces of the food processing machinery may have some unique considerations and customizations – typically based on the specific requirements, functions, and unit operations which they perform—to keep in mind when constructing, designing, and selecting food processing equipment for a particular food processing unit, there are also a few factors an industry professional can consider across the board to ensure that their food processing equipment fulfills their needs.
Function – The specific function for which a piece of equipment is intended largely determines the general type of equipment employed.
Form – The form or state in which food is being processed comes in greatly influences the particular type of food processing machinery employed as some food processing equipment is better suited for one form over another.
Healthy and Hygienic design – As the food products produced and processed by the food production and processing industry are intended for consumption, the food processing equipment employed to execute the necessary processes and unit operations are designed with consideration to health, hygiene and sanitation standards and regulations set by a variety of government agencies or the government itself and private organizations. These standards and regulations highlight the requirements, functions, etc., and best practices aimed towards ensuring the manufacture of safe food and protection of public health and safety.
Sizing and structure– Multiple factors help pre-determine the optimal size for food processing equipment, but ultimately, the goal is to balance the material and resources used for each unit operation and the required production output.
Construction requirements– It must be constructed, designed, and customized with consideration to healthy and hygienic design. Apart from this requirement, it must also be constructed and designed to be built in a way to withstand the stress from the various mechanical, chemical, thermal, and physical processes and unit operations of the food processing cycle. Other construction requirements to keep in mind include:
- Dimensional and weight restrictions
- Facilitation of cleaning and maintenance operations
- Use of standard vs. custom parts
Operational characteristics – A particular processing machinery is typically constructed, designed customized to be built with a particular function or unit operation in mind. However, the method in which these functions and operations are executed or performed by these machines can vary depending on the design of the equipment, and additional components can be integrated to facilitate smoother operation. Some characteristics of food processing equipment to consider include:
- Batch vs. continuous processing
- Manual vs. automatic operation
- Integration of analytical or quality control units
Cost –It is necessary to select the right equipment which effectively and efficiently the requirements and functions of the said food production or processing unit, to consider the overall costs to better determine whether the particular selection is worth the investment. The cost-benefit analysis includes:
- Construction Material
- Standard vs Custom Equipment, etc.
Conclusion
The pool of food processing machinery manufacturers in India takes great note of the nitty-gritty details while curating a food processing machine in India. These food processing machine manufacturers in India also are open for customization regarding the food processing machinery they offer, so the choice is yours to make from the huge pool to select as per your requirements, need, etc.
