Linde’s IQF innovations featured at Seafood Processing North America

Linde is as focused as ever on developing cryogenic freezing innovations for the seafood industry. The fruits of this labor will soon be on display at Seafood Processing North America, scheduled for Sunday, 10 March through Tuesday, 12 March, 2024, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Helping seafood processors “optimize their use of liquid nitrogen and/or liquid carbon dioxide in cryogenic freezing and chilling applications” is a prime prerogative for Linde, according to the company. 

Cryogenic gases capable of individually quick freezing (IQF) products are in high demand among frozen seafood processors, Linde Associate Director of Communications Phil Davis noted. Being able to “freeze or chill seafood products to their desired target temperatures in a highly cost-effective and energy-efficient manner” is a joint goal that Linde shares with its IQF industry partners, he said. 

“Whether it's shrimp, scallops, oyster, clams, fish nuggets, or other tasty morsels, Linde’s cryogenic systems can handle it,” Davis said. 

Equipment like Linde’s CRYOLINE® UPF flighted freezer – which provides a rapid and efficient method to produce individually quick-frozen shrimp, scallops, clams, and other seafood product portions – gives processors frozen offerings with integrity and fluidity, Davis added. The belt is loaded with bulk product at the entry of the freezer. From there, the product travels through the freezer via a series of sloped belt lengths that cause the product to tumble onto the successive belt slopes, Davis said. 

This cryogenic gas application – using either liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide and mechanical action – keeps the product portions separate and individual. 

“They don’t have a chance to freeze together,” Davis said.

Proper freezing and chilling techniques help ensure final product quality meets stringent standards and meets consumer texture and taste preferences, according to Linde Business Development Director Chris Johnson. 

“Cryogenic freezing is an extremely efficient way of preserving the quality of high-value seafood products. This can give seafood processors a significant point of difference for the frozen seafood products they bring to market while maintaining manufacturing efficiencies,” Johnson said. “Because seafood products are delicate in nature, Linde’s CRYOLINE UPF flighted freezer gives seafood suppliers the power to time things perfectly to prevent over- or under-freezing. By the end of the day, with cryogenic IQF technologies, you end up with individually frozen, free-flowing products that are fluid for easier handling, packaging and optimal appearance.”

To get the timing just right for each of its seafood industry customers, Linde conducts lab work, Johnson confirmed.

“We do lab work – we don’t let processors jump into the unknown,” he said. “We take the customer’s product in any fashion that they have it – whether they’ve breaded to it, marinated it, or offered it raw up, etc. – and run it through the food lab to see what we would recommend for the proper timing and equipment specifications at the proper temperature.” 

Processors can choose between flat belt, flighted belt, rotary drum, or immersion options within Linde’s IQF catalogue, Linde added. 

In addition to featuring its IQF offerings at Seafood Processing North America, Linde will also be showcasing its CRYOLINE PB plate belt tunnel freezer as well as its Linde Green nitrogen. 

Powered by liquid nitrogen, the CRYOLINE PB plate belt tunnel freezer is designed to accommodate a variety of difficult-to-handle products, including raw marinated proteins, sauced foods, semi-liquid products, and more. It boasts a “unique solid stainless-steel conveyor belt, with no wire mesh,” Linde said, as well as a modular design for onsite extension, an accessible interior for cleaning purposes, and controllable fans for maximum nitrogen efficiency.

The company’s low-carbon nitrogen is produced using electricity generated from renewable energy sources has been specially engineered to support the carbon reduction plans of seafood processors, while still meeting all the requirements of their cryogenic freezing and chilling needs, Linde noted.

Explore all of Linde’s innovations at Booth #1465 this March at Seafood Processing North America.