Mechanical IQF freezing solutions for individual food items

Mechanical IQF

Mechanical IQF (Individual Quick Freezing) uses high-velocity, low-temperature air to freeze individual products quickly and uniformly. This ensures efficient heat transfer, high yield, and consistent product quality.

Our solutions combine proven refrigeration technology with advanced airflow design to deliver faster freezing, up to 20% lower energy consumption, and superior performance compared to conventional systems.

Our mechanical portfolio is structured into two dedicated series: UltraFreeze and AeroFreeze.

UltraFreeze is built for stable, efficient production with low cost per kg and consistent results across a wide range of applications.

AeroFreeze is engineered for high-performance freezing, offering advanced airflow control for demanding, high-throughput environments.

Fast freezing is essential to preserving food quality. By minimizing ice crystal formation, IQF technology protects product structure, texture, and appearance—while reducing yield loss by up to 0.3–1.5%.

Individual quick freezing

IQF food processing

Freezing chicken nuggets in spiral freezer

IQF stands for individual quick freezing. It is a freezing method that is used to freeze food products like certain seafood, such as shrimps and small fish, meat, poultry, berries, fruits, and vegetables – whole, diced and sliced as well as pasta, cheese, baked goods, and grains. There are two types of IQF treatment: mechanical IQF and cryogenic IQF. We offer both technologies, and our customers often combine the two.

Learn more about individual quick freezing here

Individual quick freezing

Freezing meat and patties in spiral freezer

Customized solutions

Mechanical IQF for your production

A mechanical IQF freezing solution uses a recirculating refrigerant and high-efficiency air coolers to remove heat from the circulating air and rapidly reduce product temperature. Each solution is engineered to match your specific production setup and can operate with CO₂, ammonia, or other standard refrigerants.

Our systems are designed to deliver up to 20% faster freezing compared to conventional mechanical solutions. This is achieved through optimized airflow and oversized evaporators with up to 40% more heat exchange surface, resulting in a lower Delta T and significantly improved heat transfer. The outcome is faster freezing, higher capacity, and more consistent product quality.

Mechanical IQF solutions are ideal for large-scale and high-volume production of both raw and processed foods. While the initial investment is higher than for cryogenic systems, the combination of high capacity, energy efficiency, and low operating cost ensures a fast return on investment. For producers running continuous, high-throughput operations, mechanical IQF remains the most cost-effective and scalable freezing technology.

IQF cooling, heating, and heat exchanging

Our mechanical cooling and heating equipment can also be used to cool and chill food and for long duration cooking or very high-volume production food such as poultry, meat, prepared foods, and baked products. The IQF treatment preserves original moisture, content, and flavor, and achieves rapid heat transfer without dehydration or cold spots. It also maintains product yield with the lowest cost per kg of cooked product and lowest kW consumption. Our product range includes spiral ovens, steam cookers, spiral sous vides, and pasteurizers.

Fast freezing

Mechanical IQF freezing is one of the most effective ways to preserve the natural quality of food. During any freezing process, ice crystals form within the product – but the size of these crystals makes all the difference.

The faster the freezing process, the smaller the ice crystals. Small crystals cause minimal damage to cell structures, while large crystals can rupture cell walls and negatively impact texture, appearance, and taste. By ensuring rapid and uniform freezing, mechanical IQF technology helps retain the product’s natural shape, color, and flavor – while significantly reducing drip loss during thawing.

An energy-efficient and sustainable choice

Mechanical IQF solutions not only protect product quality and food safety – they also support more sustainable production.

Long operating cycles with minimal defrosting reduce water consumption, wastewater, and the need for cleaning chemicals. Combined with optimized airflow and efficient system design, our solutions deliver up to 20% lower energy consumption compared to conventional mechanical IQF systems.

Whether processing meat, poultry, seafood, fruits and vegetables, or ready meals, mechanical IQF freezing contributes to lower operating costs, improved yield, and a reduced environmental footprint.

Maximize uptime. Minimize cleaning and risk.

Defrost cycles

Cleaning and defrosting of a spiral freezer

Minimizing defrost cycles has a direct impact on both food safety and operating costs.

Our mechanical IQF freezers are designed for extended continuous operation – capable of running hot, breaded, or fried products for up to 144 hours without defrosting. Maintaining stable, low temperatures over longer periods helps limit bacterial growth and supports a higher level of food safety throughout production.

Fewer defrost cycles also mean less downtime, reduced cleaning frequency, and lower operating costs – allowing you to maximize production uptime and efficiency.

In addition, our solutions can be equipped with integrated steam cleaning systems, offering a safe and efficient alternative to traditional defrosting. Compared to sequential defrosting, steam cleaning can reduce energy consumption by up to 30%, while ensuring fast and hygienic cleaning processes.

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Mechanical IQF for maximum food quality