Linde targets productivity of mixer chilling with hygienic LIXSHOOTER bottom injectors

To help processors of meat, poultry, and other foods raise the bar on food safety and productivity in mixer chilling operations, Linde LLC announces new LIXSHOOTER bottom injectors, which are easy-to-retrofit and feature advanced hygienic design. Unlike other cryogenic bottom-injection (BI) nozzles, the self-sealing injectors are designed to prevent food product from penetrating injector orifices.

The new LIXSHOOTER injectors are strategically positioned on the bottom of the mixer, blender or kettle, and can rapidly chill ground meat and poultry mixes – and virtually any type of wet food or wet ingredient blends. With a dual-cryogen option, the injectors can chill with either liquid nitrogen (LIN) or carbon dioxide (CO2). The dual-cryogen option for LIXSHOOTER injectors makes it possible to switch between LIN and CO2 in a matter of minutes rather than hours or days, providing for production flexibility and higher reliability in cryogen supply.

The hygienic LIXSHOOTER injectors mount flush with the internal surface of the mixer to significantly minimize areas that could harbor moisture or foodborne pathogens. The advanced hygienic design helps improve productivity by reducing the time and labor required for maintenance and sanitation. The design also conforms to the hygienic design principles of the American Meat Institute (AMI).

“With food safety of paramount concern, LIXSHOOTER injectors represent state-of-the-art hygienic design, and we can install them on almost any type of mixer, blender or kettle,” DiMaggio said. “By replacing existing bottom-injectors with our new injection system, processors can upgrade mixer chilling production – without the high capital outlay for a new mixer or blender.”

Wet Mixes, Too

The ability to handle wet mixes under sanitary processing conditions in high volume mixers opens up new possibilities for cold food processing and new product development. The hygienic design of the LIXSHOOTER injectors extends the advantages of BI chilling to a variety of even wet foods or ingredients such as: