Innovative cooling tunnel for mozzarella production at the Brixen dairy
With the construction of a new three-story cooling tunnel, Brimi – Milchhof Brixen is boosting efficiency and capacity at its production site in Vahrn. The solution, developed in collaboration with airinotec, not only offers maximum cooling performance in a minimum of space, but also a flexible operating and automation concept – perfectly tailored to the increasing demands of fresh food production.
Increase in production capacity
Milchhof Brixen (Brimi), one of Italy's leading mozzarella producers, has expanded its production site in Vahrn with a new, state-of-the-art cooling tunnel. The cooling tunnel, designed and installed by airinotec, features a flexible automation and operating concept. It replaces the previous tunnel and enables a significant increase in production thanks to its higher cooling and storage capacity.
A cooling tunnel with state-of-the-art air cooling technology and optimized storage capacity
The newly developed cooling tunnel consists of three levels connected by vertical conveyors and offers a total of 162 storage spaces for the rapid cooling of products such as mozzarella, ricotta, and mascarpone in various sizes. Thanks to state-of-the-art air cooling technology, Brimi – Milchhof Brixen can now make its production processes more flexible and efficient. A particular challenge was the integration of the system into the existing building with limited space and structural restrictions. A customized, space-saving control system with innovative ventilation technology was developed to meet these requirements. In order to achieve the best possible cooling times for the products, Brimi – Milchhof Brixen and airinotec also worked together in advance to develop and implement optimization options in terms of packaging and palletizing schemes.
Flexible automation and operating concept for high flexibility and efficient production runs
Parallel to the installation of the system, a flexible automation and operating concept was implemented, enabling high flexibility and fast production runs. A special safety and access system ensures comprehensive protection for operators, while the operation of the cooling tunnel was affected as little as possible. Thanks to the modular design of the system, installation and commissioning could be carried out during ongoing production and with limited accessibility.
This customized solution was developed in response to the requirement to integrate an innovative cooling tunnel system into the building structure in such a way that maximum performance could be achieved in a minimum of space – entirely in line with our customers' wishes.
Two-stage implementation to ensure ongoing production
To minimize disruption to production, the project was divided into two implementation phases. In the first phase, the existing cooling tunnel remained in operation while the new cooling tunnel was installed in parallel and made operational as far as possible. The connections to the production line were tested at an early stage to ensure a smooth transition. In the second phase, the new cooling tunnel was fully integrated into the production conveyor system. The old cooling tunnel will then be decommissioned and dismantled by Brimi – Milchhof Brixen.
Project objectives and results: Increased cooling capacity and flexible rapid product cooling
The installation of this cooling tunnel represented a decisive step in the future strategy of the Brixen dairy. Thanks to the expanded cooling capacity and efficient, flexible rapid cooling, the company is now optimally prepared for future market developments and can respond flexibly to increasing production requirements. Brime – Milchhof Brixen has also laid the foundation for further investments in production and logistics. Thanks to increased efficiency and flexibility, the company will secure and expand its competitiveness in the long term.
How do airinotec's cooling tunnel solutions work?
Experience the cooling tunnel in action and see for yourself how effective airinotec's innovative pallet cooling systems are. The video answers all your questions about cooling a wide variety of dairy products on pallets. Decide for yourself which cooling solution is right for you, or let us advise you. We can also build a customized solution for you.
