Nyle Systems is pleased to announce the opening of a new food drying lab that has been built to address the increased demand for testing and development of food products and other materials such as fibers, plant-based packaging, building materials, pharmaceutical products, etc., that require moisture reduction under the most precise and efficient conditions.  The lab is part of a factory expansion at Nyle’s Brewer, Maine production facility, where orders for energy-efficient heat pump systems in each of their business units have sharply increased during the past 3 years.  In addition to food dehydration systems, Nyle designs and builds lumber kilns and heat pump water heating systems for commercial and residential applications.

The lab consists of a sealed drying chamber that is capable of holding 4 standard bakery racks of product and a heat pump that controls both temperature and relative humidity inside of the chamber.  Circulation fans and distribution components deliver air to the treatment space, and a variable speed drive controller adjusts the speed and direction of airflow.  A PLC automatically controls the functions of the lab dryer, and an operator screen reports the operating conditions and allows the operator to change temperature, RH, and airspeed to suit the application.

Products that may be tested in our lab

• Vegetables, including root crops and leafy products

• Fruit, both fresh and infused

• Plant-based products 

• Mushrooms

• Jerky, both vegetable and meat

• Seafood products, including fish skins, algae, kelp, fish, and sea cucumbers

• Snacks including granola, fruit leathers, seeds, pork rinds, and kale chips

• Pet treats, including fresh and extruded products

• Pharmaceutical products

• Poultry, beef, pork, and lamb

• Packaging materials

• Building products

• Alternate forms of protein, including BSFL and TVP

• Ingredients

• Herbs and spices

• Coffee and other beans

Results of the tests are used to establish a drying curve and to optimize product quality characteristics (moisture content, water activity, color, surface appearance, texture) with a view toward determining the size and design of a commercial machine.  The lab may also be used for limited batch runs.  The cost to use the lab is $1500 per day, which is fully credited toward the purchase of a new machine.

Call us to set up your drying test using our energy-efficient heat pump technology!

________________________________________________________________

Nyle Systems is a growing, innovative company that develops, manufactures, and sells heat pump-driven, energy-saving products for the food processing industry.  At Nyle, our mission is to enable energy efficiency and the electrification of industrial and commercial processes, allowing our customers to transition toward a renewable, sustainable energy system. 

Call us today for a consultation to determine the best solution for your process.