Vegetables, including root crops and leafy products
Seafood products, including fish skins, kelp, & sea cucumbers
Snacks including granola, seeds, pork rinds, & kale chips
Our drying lab was built to address the increased demand for testing and developing food products and other materials, such as fibers, plant-based packaging, building materials, and pharmaceutical products requiring moisture reduction under the most precise and efficient conditions.
The lab consists of a sealed drying chamber capable of holding four standard racks of product and a heat pump that controls the chamber's temperature and relative humidity. 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 adjustment of temperature, relative humidity, and airspeed to suit the application.
The results of the tests are used to establish a drying curve and optimize product quality characteristics (moisture content, water activity, color, surface appearance, texture) to determine the size and design of a commercial machine.