Application Bulletin AF16
Quadro Comil
 

POWDERIZING SHORTENING FLAKES
 

Background / Requirement

A large baking ingredient manufacturer recently approached Quadro with an application to size reduce low melting point shortening flakes. The flakes were produced by a flaker and were 1" x 1" x 1/16" in size with a melting point of approximately 1000 F (25mm x 25mm x 1.6mm, 38 C). The shortening flakes had to be size reduced to a powder form for use in various ready-mix baking products such as cake and doughnut mix. The extremely low melting point of this product made it very difficult to size reduce by conventional mills without product melting and screen blinding.

Comil Performance

Quadro’s multi-Comil model was able to accept the full 1,000 lb/hr (454 kg/hr) discharge of the flaker and produce a powdered shortening with a particle of less than 20 mesh U.S. standard. Each stage in the multi-Comil was outfitted with Quadro’s new nitrogen spray ring assembly. A moderate amount of nitrogen was sprayed into the grinding chambers to prevent melting of this extremely heat and work sensitive product.

Summary

Cryogenic size reduction of extremely heat sensitive products is an important, successful application for the Comil. Since the sale of this multi-Comil, an identical mill was sold for size reducing a high fat chocolate to powder form. Both installations have been operating trouble-free with excellent results.

The Comil’s simplicity, cleanability, low maintenance and high capacity are major benefits as always.