Freezing Technology Saves Time and Labor for Pierino Frozen Foods

The new cryogenic technology

Pierino gnocchi exit the Messer Wave Impingement Freezer. The wave-like action helps keep the product separated while the impingement gas flows increase throughput, cryogen efficiency, and operating leverage for the premium pasta maker.Photo courtesy of Pierino Frozen FoodsAfter doing some baseline testing onsite, Messer modeled the new production increase and cost to freeze with the new Messer Wave Impingement Freezer. The Pierino team also took advantage of Messer’s Technical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, to get a firsthand look at the new freezer. “Seeing the equipment firsthand helped give us the confidence we were making the right decision,” says Gianni Guglielmetti. He was impressed with the freezer’s design that focused on long-term reliability, maintainability, and cleanability.

Like the previously installed Messer Wave Freezer, the Wave Impingement Freezer uses a wavelike motion in its conveyor belt to help keep the pasta separated. Added to that technology are impingement gas flows that increase heat transfer. This improves capacity in the same footprint as the previous freezer, and it also reduces nitrogen consumption and overall cost to freeze. The new freezer also provides easy access for cleaning with a top that lifts vertically, making it easy to maintain.

Improvements in throughput and efficiency

Since installing the Wave Impingement Freezer in September 2021, Pierino has seen a 20 to 30% increase in throughput and has also improved nitrogen efficiency by 10%. Most importantly, Pierino has increased its operating leverage.

The Messer Wave Impingement freezer is the latest IQF freezing technology for improved throughput, efficiency, and labor savings.Photo courtesy of Messer“We can run at full capacity and at the same time shorten our workday,” Guglielmetti says. “Employees originally assigned to the freezer line have been repurposed to preparation.”

Messer worked with Pierino to set up a different recipe for each of its product lines so that the freezer’s wave action could be changed automatically with each change of product. This enables Pierino to more easily deliver perfectly cooked, high-quality pasta.

With the Wave Impingement Freezer, Pierino can run custom orders with minimal stocking time and inventory, helping the producer to grow its business and maintain its profitable growth trajectory.

“Our partnership with Messer goes back to my early days in the business,” says Guglielmetti, who grew up with the company. “If we run into a problem, we contact Messer and get prompt support.”