Since the introduction of the air drying process by Mefus & Frisch, the industrial landscape has changed significantly. Originally designed for food and pharmaceutical industries and the production of lithium-ion batteries, the innovative technology has also found applications in the preservation of appliances, materials, documents and art. However, the greatest application potential is still in the fruit and vegetable sector, particularly in the soft fruit category, Managing Director Thomas Frisch confirms.
Blueberry tunnel drying: At the entrance, the wet berries are placed on the conveyor belt; they are being dried in the tunnel using conditioned air. Then, the berries are transported directly to the cold store for further processing.
The first systems used waste heat from refrigeration plants to supply heat. In recent years, the process has been further optimized through adsorption drying. It is becoming increasingly important in food production, especially in the drying of blueberries, where conventional methods are reaching their limits, Frisch observes. "The use of our rotary dryers not only reduces mold growth in the packaging, but also enables flexible harvesting at any time, regardless of weather conditions. During packaging, we benefit from precise product weight estimates, as the weight of the water has already evaporated."
Thomas Frisch (here at expoSE 2023) manages the company, based in the Warendorf district, together with his father Gerhard.
Solving packaging and storage problems
The use of rotary dryers, in which moist air is passed through a rotating adsorbent-coated sorption wheel, enables low residual moisture contents down to -65 °C. This is particularly relevant in the food industry, where process air drying with very low dew points is required, according to Frisch. He mentions a pleasing level of innovation and investment in the berry industry. "The increasing demand results from the need to guarantee shelf life and quality. Particularly in years with a lot of precipitation during the harvest, our systems are in great demand, solving problems with packaging and storage."
This year's stand at the expoSE trade event in Karlsruhe was once again dedicated to innovative refrigeration technology for agricultural purposes. Mefus & Frisch can look back on a successful appearance at the asparagus and berry trade fair. "Overall, the trade fair was well attended and we had positive discussions with existing customers. The expoSE is very important for us, as it provides a platform for presenting our entire production portfolio and exchanging innovative ideas," Frisch explains.
Growth potential for innovative asparagus and berry businesses
With regard to the future of the asparagus and berry sector, the entrepreneur emphasizes the importance of quality and good sales prices. Although smaller farms are already giving up, Frisch sees growth potential for those who are prepared to invest in innovative technologies.
"In my opinion, the main challenge is to maintain production under increasing regulations and difficult framework conditions. Nevertheless, the mood is already more positive than last year. There is still serious interest in solutions that save on labor costs. An image campaign for asparagus could increase interest among young consumers and stimulate the sector as a whole."
Visit the company at Fruit Logistica: Hall 4.1 | A-46
Images: Mefus & Frisch
For more information:
Thomas Frisch
MEFUS & FRISCH Kältetechnik GmbH
Warendorfer Straße 18
59320 Ennigerloh-Westkirchen
Tel.: (0 25 87) 9 30 10
Fax: (0 25 87) 93 01 36
Email: info@mefus-frisch.de
www.mefus-frisch.de