US-based industrial gases company Air Products has expanded its cryogenic food processing solution offerings with the Freshline QuickChill injector.

The company designed this new product to help food manufacturers to quickly and efficiently chill sauces and liquids.

Air Products claims that its technology can minimise chilling times. It also says the injector can improve throughput of a wide range of liquid food products. These products include sauces, soups, dressings, marinades, pie fillings and purees.

The optional Air Products Process Intelligence technology will also enable food manufacturers to monitor and track injector operation using a temperature sensor through industrial internet of things (IIoT) enabled communication technology. The company said that food manufacturers can purchase the QuickChill units and install them in the new or existing kettles and vessels, eliminating the need to invest in additional kettles, equipment or floor space.

Air Products has worked with the food industry for more than six decades and supplies gases, equipment and technology to the industry.

It also operates a food lab in Allentown, Pennsylvania, wher it tests its customer’s goods on production-scale equipment. These tests determine if the usage of cryogenics in their process is cost-effective and optimises their food processing scale.

In October 2011, Air Products launched its new Freshline QS tunnel freezer to cryogenically freeze or chill foods. These foods include meat and poultry, seafood, fruits and vegetables, pasta, dairy products, baked goods and ready-prepared meals.

The company said that the new tunnel freezer is suitable for smaller volume food processors and start-ups. It allows manufacturers to quickly begin freezing a high-quality product with minimal upfront costs.