The Commercial Freezer Checklist

How quickly is your business growing? How much additional production throughput do you anticipate over the next 12 to 24 months?

This is an important question. If you’re pretty clear on the potential market for your product and your predicted growth, a fixed capacity solution may suit your needs.

But if you’re planning for the future based on your current production speed - and aren’t considering what faster throughput could bring to your business, it may be worth being a little more ambitious.

How could greater capacity help you to scale? How many more customers could you service - and how much better?

Cryogenic freezing is more efficient than other methods like mechanical freezing, so not only could you increase your freezing capacity, you could also increase your throughput.

What difference could this make to your growth plans? 

How will you finance your new freezer? 

Do you plan to purchase your freezing equipment - or would a leasing option be more suitable? 

Leasing reduces capital outlay and offers a more flexible option, should you need to upscale (or downsize) in the future. It also helps to maintain operational costs in line with your production throughput and leaves the door open to upgrade within a shorter timescale. 

If financing the capital expenditure of an industrial freezer is out of the question right now, seek out suppliers offering a leasing option. 

Do you plan to purchase your freezing equipment - or would a leasing option be more suitable? 

Leasing reduces capital outlay and offers a more flexible option, should you need to upscale (or downsize) in the future. It also helps to maintain operational costs in line with your production throughput and leaves the door open to upgrade within a shorter timescale. 

If financing the capital expenditure of an industrial freezer is out of the question right now, seek out suppliers offering a leasing option. 

How flexible do you need your freezer to be? 

Is there seasonality to your business? Are you producing multiple varieties of product? Are some more delicate or robust than others? 

It’s important that your freezer flexes with the demands of your business. 

If you’re producing a single item, all year-round, an option that works on a restricted range of variable temperatures may suit your needs best. For those handling multiple products requiring different freezing options, more innovative freezing technologies, employing touch screen control of operating temperature, air velocity and product retention is key to ensuring production consistency.  

How important is product quality? 

A silly question - of course it’s important. But how important is it to maintain appearance for example, or moisture levels within your products? 

This is where cryogenic freezing comes into its own. Because it operates at a significantly lower temperature, delivering exceptional heat transfer, freezing times are much quicker. 

Aside from the production benefits of quicker freezing, faster freezing forms smaller ice crystals, which damage less of the food’s cellular structure. It means flavour, colour and natural shape are retained, while dehydration is limited to around 0.5% (in comparison with up to 3% in mechanical freezing). 

When you’re dealing with delicate or fresh foods and there’s an urgency to freeze quickly to maintain quality, look for a solution like CRYOLINE^® that operates at a lower temperature. 

Do you have the space within your premises to accommodate a new freezer? 

Space is typically at a premium in any food production business. The ideal is high volume freezing capacity within a small footprint. 

Cryogenic freezers occupy a compact area in comparison with mechanical freezers, and provide a hygienic and accessible design for easy cleaning. For producers requiring the larger scale of a mechanical freezing solution, supplementary capacity in the form of a cryogenic freezer can be a cost-effective option to scale, without significant investment in site expansion. 

Are you planning any new product development? Are you expanding your product offering? 

The ability to develop new products ties into the flexibility of your freezing solution.  

With greater technological agility it’s possible to test different approaches to achieve the optimal conditions for products - there’s no ‘it’s this way or not at all’. 

But it isn’t always about the technology. In many instances it’s the knowledge of the freezer supplier that counts. 

At BOC’s Food Technology Centre, we work with clients to discover the best ways to improve and refine their products. At times it’s about assessing product suitability across a range of freezing temperatures, while at others it’s about demonstrating alternative techniques, such as crust freezing. 

To ensure your freezer is an absolute fit for your new product plans, make sure you work with a provider who is as innovative as you are. 

Consider your energy consumption. 

Of course, no business wants to consume more energy than it needs to - both for commercial and environmental reasons. 

Take care to understand the operational energy costs of any freezer you consider. Can you freeze the same number of products in a shorter time? Can your freezer be turned off when it’s not in use? 

Your supplier should be able to help with these cost calculations and the difference can be significant. 

Get the right support in place. 

Your relationship with your freezer supplier should extend way beyond installation. 

Make sure they’re responsive to maintenance requests and will service your freezer on a regular basis. BOC offers a dedicated support helpline and ongoing freezer servicing, as well as access to product development advice and support from its Food Technology Centre. 

Think about the broader logistical and financial impact. 

Before placing your order, take time to consider the mechanical, electrical and logistics support you’ll need. 

When space planning, don’t forget access to power and any additional investment this may need. Also consider your outside space. If you decide on a CRYOLINE^® freezer, you’ll need to allow room for a cryogenic vessel and access for an articulated delivery vehicle. 

If you’re freezing faster, or in higher quantities, check the impact on your packing facility, your storage and distribution capabilities and your staff overheads. 

With the right solution, you could easily recoup the cost of an upgrade, and over time actually save money in comparison with your earlier freezer. Food for thought.