Horizontal Plate Freezer Selection Guide: Applications, Tray Size & Capacity Explained
- Jun 12
- 2 min read
Horizontal plate freezers utilize direct contact heat transfer, resulting in high freezing efficiency. They are ideal for processing block, tray, and regularly shaped products, and are particularly suitable for space-constrained environments such as fishing boats and small to medium-sized processing plants.
The following is a compilation based on industry-standard data; note that slight variations may exist between different equipment manufacturers.
Suitable Products for Horizontal Plate Freezer
1. Seafood
Whole fish, fish fillets, fish blocks
Shrimp and shellfish
Surimi and paste-like products
2. Meat & Poultry
Portion cuts and steaks
Ground meat
Offal products
Key feature:These products are generally uniform in shape, compressible, and thickness-controlled, making them ideal for contact freezing.
Tray Size and Capacity Reference
Tray specifications are not fixed and can be customized based on product type and production requirements. Below are typical industry configurations:
1. General Seafood Applications
Typical tray size:
600 × 400 × 80 mm
600 × 530 × 75 mm
Loading capacity:
10 – 25 kg per tray
Suitable for standardized seafood products
2. Meat Processing Applications
Typical tray size:
500 × 300 × 96 mm
700 × 450 × ≤120 mm
Loading capacity:
15 – 20 kg per tray (or higher)
Suitable for dense meat products
Key Equipment Parameters Affecting Capacity
In addition to trays, the following parameters determine overall output:
1. Plate Size
Length: 1520 mm – 3400 mm
Width: 1200 mm – 1845 mm
Larger plates mean higher single-batch capacity
2. Number of Plates
Ranges from a few to over 30 plates
A key factor in total production capacity
3. Plate Spacing
Adjustable range: 50 mm – 150 mm
Allows flexibility for different product thicknesses
Important Selection Considerations
A horizontal plate freezer is not suitable for the following:
Granular products (e.g., peas, corn)
Irregular-shaped items
Non-compressible products
Products thicker than 150 mm
Conclusion
The size of the freezing trays, the loading capacity per tray, and the total output can all be flexibly customized to meet specific needs.
The above are typical applications and freezing tray parameters for horizontal plate freezers. When selecting a model, please feel free to communicate with us, providing detailed product information and capacity requirements to obtain the most suitable customized horizontal plate freezers solution.
