Continuous Processors speed plant-based meat product manufacturing by 40 percent

Continuous Processors from process equipment manufacturer Readco Kurimoto, LLC, in York, Pa. (www.readco.com), integrate the mixing, heating, flavoring, seasoning, forming and texturizing steps into a single, automated step to speed production of plant-based meats and other alternative food products. Streamlining the multi-step batch process, the Continuous Processors feature a co-rotating, twin-screw configuration with a variable paddle arrangement inside a sealed, ASME-rated barrel that combines multiple liquid and dry ingredients simultaneously. Heating or cooling may be applied as the mixing elements impart a wide choice of textures at discharge to mimic natural meat and poultry. The one-step process yields the equivalent amount of quality production as a typical batch process in 40 percent less time while eliminating batch-to-batch inconsistencies and frequent stops for cleaning.

Suitable for plant-based products that use pea protein, cottonseed protein, mushrooms, wheat gluten, jackfruit, methylcellulose binders, soy proteins, soy isolate, soy concentrates and other ingredients, the Continuous Processors are designed with high shear zones to consistently disperse proteins and other sticky ingredients in the required proportions. Emulsions are formed quickly and precisely, and remain in suspension throughout the process without excess heat history to meet the targeted homogeneity, texture and other properties as required for each customer's installation.