Engineered Contact Freezing Systems for Food Processing
Baltic Conveyor Systems designs, manufactures and installs industrial contact plate freezers and contact plate freezing systems for food processing facilities across Europe and internationally.
Contact plate freezers are industrial freezing systems where products are frozen through direct contact with refrigerated metal plates. Plate freezers are widely used in fish processing, seafood processing, meat processing and other food industries where block freezing is required.
This technology is used when products must be frozen in blocks, trays or cartons while maintaining a defined shape.
Each freezing system is engineered according to the technological requirements of the product and the production process.
We provide complete project implementation from engineering and freezing process calculation to manufacturing, installation and commissioning.
Contact Freezing Technology
Contact plate freezing works on the principle of conductive heat transfer and is one of the most efficient technologies for industrial block freezing.
Unlike air freezing systems, where cold air removes heat from the product surface, contact freezers transfer heat directly through metal plates cooled by refrigerant.
Because metal has very high thermal conductivity, heat is removed from the product much faster than in air-based freezing systems. This allows the product to freeze rapidly and uniformly while preserving structure and quality.
A typical contact plate freezer includes:
- refrigerated aluminium freezing plates
- refrigerant circulation inside the plates
- hydraulic or mechanical plate closing system
- insulated freezing chamber
- loading and unloading system
During operation the product is placed between freezing plates which close around the product and create direct thermal contact.
Heat is transferred from the product to the plates and then removed by the refrigeration system.
Horizontal Plate Freezers
Horizontal plate freezers are commonly used for products that are packed in trays, cartons or containers.
In these systems the freezing plates are arranged horizontally and stacked in multiple levels. Products are placed between the plates and frozen simultaneously across all levels.
Typical applications include:
- packaged food products
- prepared meals in trays
- meat blocks
- poultry products
Horizontal plate freezers provide high production density while maintaining consistent product shape during freezing.
Vertical Plate Freezers
Vertical plate freezers are frequently used in seafood processing plants and fish block freezing operations where high capacity plate freezers are required.
In this configuration freezing plates are arranged vertically and the product is loaded between them. Once loaded, the plates close and freeze the product into compact blocks.
Vertical systems are commonly used for:
- fish fillet blocks
- whole fish freezing
- shrimp blocks
- seafood processing
Vertical plate freezers provide high freezing capacity in a compact footprint and are widely used in fish processing plants and onboard freezing installations.
Block Freezing Applications
Contact plate freezing is particularly suitable for products that are frozen in blocks or packed formats.
Typical applications include:
- fish blocks for storage and transport
- minced meat blocks
- poultry blocks
- prepared food products
- packaged food in cartons or trays
Block freezing allows efficient storage, transport and further processing of frozen products.
When Contact Freezing Is the Right Solution
Contact plate freezers are typically used when products require freezing in a defined shape or compact block form.
This technology is particularly effective when:
- products are packed in cartons or trays
- products must maintain a fixed shape during freezing
- high freezing density is required
- production space is limited
- block freezing is part of the processing technology
Compared with air freezing systems, contact freezing provides faster heat transfer and improved energy efficiency.
Contact Freezing Compared with Air Freezing
Different freezing technologies are used depending on the product and production process.
Contact plate freezers remove heat through direct thermal contact, while spiral and tunnel freezers rely on cold air circulation.
Typical applications by technology:
Contact plate freezer
- block freezing of fish
- meat blocks
- packaged food products
Spiral freezer
- poultry products
- bakery products
- ready meals
Tunnel freezer
- berries and fruits
- vegetables
- IQF products
Contact freezing is particularly effective when the product must maintain shape and freeze into compact blocks.
Engineering and Freezing Process Calculation
Each contact freezing system is engineered individually according to the product and production requirements.
Engineering calculations consider:
- product dimensions and thickness
- required freezing time
- production throughput
- refrigeration capacity
- integration with upstream and downstream equipment
The freezing process is defined according to the technological requirements of the product.
Integrated Refrigeration Systems
Contact plate freezers are designed together with the required industrial refrigeration systems.
Refrigeration systems are dimensioned according to:
- freezing capacity
- product load
- plate surface area
- operating temperature regime
This integrated engineering approach ensures stable freezing performance and efficient energy consumption.
Manufacturing and Installation
All freezing systems are:
- engineered in-house
- manufactured in the EU
- installed and commissioned by our technical team
Our engineers manage the entire project cycle from concept and engineering to installation at the customer site.
Products Suitable for Contact Freezing
Contact plate freezing is widely used for food products that require block freezing or freezing in trays and containers.
Typical products include:
- fish and seafood blocks
- meat blocks
- poultry products
- prepared meals
- packaged food products
Operational Benefits
Properly engineered contact plate freezers provide:
- rapid freezing through direct heat transfer
- high energy efficiency
- compact equipment footprint
- consistent product shape
- stable industrial operation
Contact plate freezers remain one of the most efficient technologies for block freezing in modern food processing plants.