A dairy processing plant processes milk in various forms, like liquid milk, milk powder etc. It also transforms milk into different milk products like cheese, curd, butter, etc. Maintaining the hygiene, taste, and flavor of milk products is quite a tough job. Milk is rich in proteins; hence, bacterial growth and lactic acid production are pretty common in milk. Moreover, once bacteria starts to grow in milk, the entire milk batch must be thrown away. Thus, preserving the quality of milk during the processing stages is very important to prevent wastage and loss. A milk processing unit thus has many equipment to ensure safe and efficient processing of milk.
Equipment That Is Essential For Running A Milk Processing Unit
Milk Powder Packing Machines
Milk powder is excellent for the long-term storage of milk. Also, it is much more compact than liquid milk and thus is much easier to transport. Most milk processing units produce milk powder by removing the moisture from the fluid milk. The powder is packaged using a milk powder packing machine. These machines have an assembly line of devices. It has a milk powder filling machine, vacuum sealers, and labeling machines. The milk powder filling machine has a screw-shaped filler that dispenses a pre-fixed quantity of powder in every packet. Mechanical filters can be of different types according to the substance that is to be filled in. Milk is a dry powder, so the filler is screw-shaped. If a viscous liquid or a sticky powder is to be filled in, the filler will be of a different type.
The Milking Machines
Milking machines create a suction force to milk the cows. The suction force is created by a pump that is attached to the milking machine. A milking device has a check valve that shuts down automatically when the vessel has been completely filled with milk. The check valve is thus essential for preventing the backflow of milk inside the pumps. The check valves, therefore, play a crucial role in protecting the equipment.
Equipment Essential For Sterilizing The Milk
Milk is rich in proteins and gets spoiled by bacteria quite easily. Hence a milk processing unit used several techniques to maintain the milk in a germ-free condition. Pasteurization is the most common technique that is used to rid the milk of germs. It involves heating the milk to around seventy degrees celsius for a very short span of time.
Some milk processing units also use an ultra-high temperature (UHT) treatment to rid the milk of bacterial growth. In ultra-high temperature treatment, the milk is heated to around a hundred and fifty-degree celsius for about two or three seconds.
Bottles An2d Cans For Packing The Milk
Glass bottles are great for storing milk because they keep the smell and the flavor intact. Hence wholesale juice bottles suppliers can supply bottles for storing milk. Also, when taken out of the freezer, glass bottles take much longer to come to room temperature. Hence, the contents of a glass bottle can be kept cool for a longer time compared to cardboard or plastic. Since low temperatures prevent the spoilage of milk, glass bottles ensure that milk has a longer lifespan. Thus, milk in glass bottles does not get spoiled or wasted easily.
Milk is dispensed in plastic pouches because they are light and highly convenient to use. Although plastic is not degradable, most people actively participate in used packet recollection systems. Hence, most of the milk pouches can be recalled and reused, which tackles plastic waste to a large extent.
Milk is also transported in metallic containers. Tin is the most common metal that is used to transport milk. The most significant advantage of metal cans is that they are highly durable and can be used for a long time.
Equipment For Separating Cream From Milk
Most milk processing units also use a piece of equipment known as the milk cream separator. As the name suggests, these machines separate the cream from the milk. These separators centrifuge the milk at high speed. The cream has a different density as compared to the toned milk. Hence when a centrifugal force is applied, the lighter cream floats up on top of the toned milk. The cream can then be separated from the top.
Conclusion
Old dairies had to throw away large quantities of milk on a regular basis if the consumer’s demand was not high. However, modern milk processing units are much more efficient. They use technology to improve the shelf life and the utility of milk. High heat treatment, modern freezers, and drying units have immensely contributed to lowering milk wastage. Apart from improving shelf life, modern technology also can change the form of milk to powdered form, cheese, etc. Milk products like cheese, butter, clarified milk, etc., have tremendous market value and thus improve the overall profit of any milk processing unit.