Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. will be exhibiting at the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California from March 10-12 where the company will highlight the productivity and quality benefits of using industrial gases in a variety of natural food products, including plant-based food processing applications. Among the technologies featured will be Air Products' Freshline® IQ cryogenic tunnel freezer, which offers continuous high throughput freezing or chilling for a broad range of natural, organic or plant-based foods. The Freshline® IQ cryogenic tunnel freezer is constructed in ten-foot modular sections making it easily field expandable.

It also includes an optional remote monitoring system for equipment trouble shooting, gas safety assurance, and efficiency tracking. Conference attendees are invited to stop by Air Products' booth 3192 in Hall C in the Anaheim Convention Center to speak with an industry specialist about their specific processes and challenges. Food processors will discover the many benefits of Air Products' Freshline® solutions, which use liquid nitrogen (LIN) and carbon dioxide (CO2) to improve a variety of processes, such as food freezing and chilling.

The extremely cold temperatures of these cryogenic gases enable food products to be chilled or frozen in minutes instead of the hours traditionally required with alternative systems. This rapid freeze results in smaller product weight losses and helps to ensure moisture and quality are maintained longer. Cryogenic gases are also beneficial in grinding nutraceuticals, industrial hemp, spices and other ingredients. During grinding operations, LIN or CO2 can be used to eliminate frictional heat to improve mill throughput and grind consistency.

This also helps prevent the loss of flavor and aroma. As a leader in cryogenic technology applications, Air Products operates food and grinding labs in Allentown, Pa., where the company can test a customer's product on production-scale equipment to help determine the feasibility of using cryogenics in their process, quantify the cost versus benefits of using cryogenics, and optimize their food processing operation.