Quickly freeze more in block and bulk with plate freezing

Plate freezing

Plate freezing is a highly efficient method for freezing products in blocks, trays, or cartons. It combines high freezing capacity with a compact footprint, making it ideal for large-scale production.

The process is based on direct contact freezing, ensuring fast and uniform heat transfer. This well-established method preserves product quality, nutritional value, and extends shelf life - while delivering up to 30% higher energy efficiency compared to alternative freezing technologies.

Our plate freezing solutions are delivered through the PlateFreeze series, designed for reliable, high-capacity operation across a wide range of applications.

Built for high-volume production

Plate freezing is widely used across the food industry:

- In fish and seafood, for freezing whole products immediately after catch
- In ready meals, for efficient block or tray freezing
- For secondary processing, such as freezing fillets, meat cuts, MDM, or vegetables before further processing

The technology is particularly suited for large-scale, high-volume production, where efficiency and capacity are critical.

While the initial investment is higher than cryogenic solutions, plate freezing offers a fast return on investment due to its exceptional capacity, low energy consumption, and cost-efficient operation.

Direct and double contact freezing

The plate freezing process

Plate freezing is based on direct double contact freezing, where products are placed between refrigerated plates. Refrigerant circulates inside the plates, enabling rapid and uniform heat transfer from both sides of the product.

Depending on the system, a range of refrigerants can be used, including ammonia, CO₂, freon, or brine. This flexibility allows the solution to be adapted to different production requirements and environments.

The direct contact ensures fast and consistent freezing, resulting in uniform blocks or trays that are easy to handle, stack, and store.

Freezing time depends on the product type and plate spacing, but due to the double contact principle, plate freezing is among the fastest and most efficient technologies for bulk freezing. It is ideally suited for continuous, high-volume production in block or tray formats.

Two plate freezing methods

We offer two different plate freezing methods: vertical and horizontal.

Plate freezing is available in two main configurations: vertical and horizontal - each designed to suit different products and production needs.

Vertical plate freezing is ideal for bulk products with minimal pre-handling. The product is loaded between vertical plates, where gravity ensures a compact block with minimal air inclusion. This results in faster freezing, improved product quality, and reduced yield loss.

Horizontal plate freezing is typically used for products in trays, cartons, or frames. It is well suited for packaged goods and ready meals, where consistent shape and easy handling are important.

Both methods deliver efficient, high-capacity freezing - allowing you to choose the solution that best fits your product, packaging, and process flow.

Plate technology

Plate freezing for your production

Plate freezing is particularly suited for high-volume applications such as fish and seafood, fruit and vegetables for further processing, as well as meat and poultry by-products. It is also widely used for liquids and semi-liquids - including dairy products, juices, and blood - as well as in pet food production.

The technology is ideal for producers looking for efficient, large-scale freezing with consistent product quality and easy handling.

While the initial investment is higher than for cryogenic solutions - which offer faster freezing - plate freezing delivers a fast return on investment in high-volume operations. Its exceptional capacity, energy efficiency, and low operating cost make it one of the most cost-effective freezing technologies for large-scale production.

Customized solutions

Our plate freezers are customized and will fit any production – from super trawlers and slaughterhouses to food processing plants. This allows you to freeze food quickly and instantly after processing it.

If your production requires a combination of technologies, DSI Dantech is your ideal partner. We are the only supplier offering plate freezing, mechanical IQF, and cryogenic solutions within one integrated portfolio.

This enables us to provide unbiased, expert guidance tailored to your specific process - ensuring the most efficient solution, optimized investment, and consistent service across technologies.

Automation for complete production lines

Our plate freezing solutions can be fully integrated with advanced automation systems. From loading and unloading to packaging, our handling solutions reduce manual labor, lower operating costs, and increase overall production efficiency.

Cooling, heating, and heat exchange

Plate technology is not limited to freezing. It can also be used for cooling, heating, and heat exchange across a wide temperature range - from chilling at 3°C to pasteurization at 100°C.

This flexibility allows you to handle and process products efficiently across multiple stages within the same system.

Food quality and sustainability

Fast freezing for better food quality

Fast freezing is the most effective way to preserve food at peak freshness. It reduces microbial activity as well as chemical and enzymatic reactions - helping retain nutritional value, texture, and appearance while minimizing yield loss.

This also applies to plate freezing, which is among the fastest freezing methods available. The rapid heat transfer from both sides of the product minimizes the formation of large ice crystals. Smaller ice crystals cause less damage to cell structures, preserving product quality and reducing drip loss during thawing.

The result is consistent, high-quality products with improved yield and minimal changes in texture, shape, and color.

An energy-efficient freezing solution

When you choose a plate freezing solution, you are likely to save resources.

Plate freezing is a highly energy-efficient technology designed to reduce both resource consumption and operating costs. Thanks to its direct contact freezing principle, it enables fast heat transfer with minimal energy loss.

Across a wide range of applications - from fish and meat to vegetables, liquids, pet food, and ready meals - plate freezing can deliver up to 30% lower energy consumption compared to alternative freezing technologies.

The result is not only improved operational savings, but also a reduced environmental footprint, making plate freezing a smart choice for both performance and sustainability.

Temperature control

Add core point technology for food safety

Core point technology - DSI Dantech patent

Plate freezing solutions can be equipped with advanced core temperature monitoring technology, enabling precise control of the freezing process.

By measuring the core temperature of each block, the system ensures that freezing is stopped at the exact right time - eliminating the need for estimates that can lead to overfreezing, unnecessary energy use, and longer processing times.

This results in optimized energy consumption, reduced processing time, and improved product consistency - while further strengthening food safety.

In addition, the technology provides full documentation and traceability of the freezing process for each product, supporting quality assurance and compliance requirements.

Frequently asked questions

What is plate freezing?

Plate freezing is a bulk block freezing method with a large freezing capacity and a small footprint. It is especially suitable for large scale productions of high-volume products.

When is it relevant to use plate freezing?

Plate freezing and quick freezing is relevant in all industries. For fish & seafood, it is used to freeze the whole product but also parts of the product such as filets. In the same way, ready meals are often plate frozen in its packaging. In other food industries, such as meat & poultry and fruit & vegetables, it is used to freeze the secondary production before further processing.

Why is plate freezing favorable?

Plate freezing technology is very fast. The efficient technology saves resources, spares quality of the food, and can fit an extremely large freezing capacity within just a few square meters.

How does plate freezing work?

The plate freezing process is based on direct and double contact freezing. The product is filled down between vertical plates or pushed in between horizontal plates that has a refrigerant flowing through it. The contact with the frozen plates makes the food freeze fast and uniformly.

Is plate freezing sustainable?

In general, plate freezing and quick freezing is more energy efficient than other freezing technologies. Tests show that the technology is up to 30% more energy efficient than other freezing technologies.

Contact form

Plate freezing for large scale productions