The hardening vat is the last component in the processing line for pasta filata cheeses, which contains cold water to cool the products prior to packaging. GEA offers a range of robust, hygienic, modular hardening vats that can be configured to meet any cheese type or production throughput.

The cheeses arriving from the molding machine are transferred into the vat via a loading hopper. The products are conveyed along the vat from one end to the other by a system that combines a crank-operated series of oscillating stainless steel beds at the base of the vat, and a series of adjustable water jets above the vat. The oscillating beds can be set at different cycles that either keep advancing the products through the vat, or retain them in one position for a required length of time. At the end of the unit the cheeses are extracted automatically using a motorized belt.
GEA systems can be tailored to fit any plant layout. To reduce footprint we can also design and configure hardening vats constructed on two or more levels. Vertically configured solutions feature a pneumatic lifting system to transfer products between levels.
Features of GEA hardening vats include pipework and centrifugal pump for recycling of cooling water by recirculation through a heat exchanger. The pump also recovers cleaning solutions after a cleaning cycle. Electrical controls are housed in a waterproof panel.
Whether it’s a fad or the future, 100% vial traceability is becoming an increasingly important consideration in the pharmaceutical freeze drying industry. Keeping a close eye on developments is GEA. We’re investigating possible solutions and, what’s more, we have the experience, expertise and know-how to implement them.
There was a time when the phrases ‘non-alcoholic beer’ and ‘tastes good’ were seldom used together in the same sentence, particularly by consumers. But low-proof and alcohol-free beers have come a long way – many of them now refreshing drinks in their own right – thanks in no small part to technology from GEA.
At GEA, our commitment to engineering for a better world fuels our pursuit of innovative solutions that enhance patient care and safety. One of our most promising ventures in recent years is aseptic spray drying – a technology that promises to revolutionize pharmaceutical manufacturing.