Vacuum cooling uses the principle of low-temperature evaporation of a fraction of the humidity found in a product. This results in a quick stress-free pre-cooling that guarantees a reduced drop in weight while hastening commercialisation times.
"Leaf vegetables can be cooled in 20-30 minutes, taking them from 25 to 3-5°C without stress," explains Yuri Simonelli from SAIM Service.
How vacuum cooling works - Click here to enlarge
The company has been working in the post-harvest technology sector for 30 years - from cold storage units, ozone gas applications for the sanitation of air and water, detanning and modified atmosphere to hydro and pressure cooling.
The vacuum cooling technology
In 2017, SAIM Service added vacuum cooling to the vast range of technology supplied thanks to its partnership with Dutch company Weber Cooling.
This type of cooling is particularly suitable for products with a high surface/weight ratio such as leaf lettuce, spinach, mushrooms, sprouts as well as more compact products such as green beans, broccoli, celery and corn.
Vacuum cooling works from the core of the product, extending its shelf-life and storage time. This in turn makes it easier to ship it to foreign markets.
"Different internal and final temperatures are needed according to storage and shipping times: a cooling temperature of 5°C or higher is enough for short times and distances while longer storage times and long distances require a temperature closer to 1°C."
Such conditions can be achieved and managed using refrigerated storage and transport in combination with vacuum cooling.
Vacuum cooler models - Click here to enlarge.
The company has a flexible demo machine (small quantities) for those wishing to test the technology.
More than just vegetables…
SAIM Service's partnerships with companies both in Italy and abroad and its attentiveness towards new market needs have led it to developing new applications. Compost for mushroom cultivation and heavy products such as peat for grass-turf can also be cooled with this technology. And there's more: it is also suitable for pre-baked bread and flowers.
Some of the products vacuum cooling can be used for
In 2018, SAIM Services also extended its headquarters and hired new personnel. In addition, it is active on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Contacts:
Yuri Simonelli
Cell.: +39 335 6270026
SAIM Service
Via Pantanello, 19 (Z.I)
04022 Fondi (LT)
Tel.: +39 (0)771 510470
Fax: +39 (0)771 532029
Email: info@saimimpianti.com
Web: www.saimimpianti.com