Microwave heat treatment solutions for safe and high-quality food products

SAIREM, a world-leading specialist in microwave (MW) and radio frequency (RF) industrial solutions, showcase the company’s innovative food industry processes at several shows in Europe in 2022

SAIREM, located in Lyon, France, is an expert in MW and RF solutions for a wide range of industries and applications. Putting its deep knowledge of these applications at the service of the food industry. From pasteurisation to the development of highly specialised equipment and processes, for more than 40 years SAIREM has perfected food safety and process efficiency, leading to food that is healthy, of consistent high quality and has a long shelf life. The company’s excellent customer satisfaction ensures that SAIREM’s equipment is in demand around the world.

Sylvain Tissier, Food Development Manager explains :

"Our solutions are fully electric, which makes them ecological and clean. SAIREM equipment ensures that there are no CO2 emissions at the production plant. In addition, they are easy to install and easy to maintain, offering high reliability and with few moving parts."

Enhancing taste/quality and shelf life : Pasteurisation

SAIREM equipment for microwave pasteurisation includes tunnels for ready meals and in-line heaters for pumpable products such as juices and jams. Thanks to the fast and uniform heating process, a substantial reduction in the microbial load is rapidly achieved at the core and the surface of the food. Another advantage with microwave pasteurization for ready meals is the preservation of colour, texture and nutrients without any additives needed. Depending on the food ingredients, it is also possible to combine cooking and pasteurization.

Food safety at its most efficient : Disinfestation and Decontamination?

SAIREM offers a highly efficient process for the disinfestation or decontamination of low water content products such as flour, cereals, spices, grains, lentils, beans, mushrooms, cocoa beans, nuts, seeds, cannabis, and milk powder. The process destroys mold, bacteria, larvae, and other insect colonies without the use of controversial chemical products. By exposing the product to a MW or RF frequency field within a temperature-controlled processing cavity, the product is quickly and uniformly brought to the required temperature, thus preventing alteration of its physical, chemical, and organoleptic characteristics.

Minimizing drip loss : Tempering and Defrosting

The speed and uniformity of the SAIREM process minimizes product drip losses as well as degradation and improves product safety as bacteria don’t have time to grow. It is ideal for meat, fish, seafood, fruit, and vegetable products, as well as butter. Colour, weight, taste and vitamins are retained. Customers gain flexibility as their ingredients don’t need to be unpacked - they can be processed inside the plastic film, the cardboard or plastic box and do not need a special room.

Preserving the benefits of the original material : Drying

The SAIREM drying process is ideal for herbs and plants, snacks, bakery, as well as insects for pet food and future food. SAIREM equipment can combine MW or RF frequency power with hot or cold air, IR, steam, etc. This delivers a homogeneous and quick temperature rise, enhancing product properties and ensuring that there is no degradation of delicate materials. In addition, MW and RF heating treatment greatly accelerates the drying process which can be up to 100 times faster than the traditional process.

Fast processes with delicious results : Cooking

During cooking, products gain their final taste, colour, shape and texture. Products that can be treated include a variety of desserts and a range of specialties such as spring rolls. MW and RF heat food through volumetric action and enables easy and speedy cooking.

Product safety and high quality

SAIREM’s unique short treatment duration that characterizes all the company’s product solutions help to preserve the taste and vitamin content of the food as well as food safe and high product quality with a long shelf life. It guarantees quality and freshness even for heat-sensitive food. The speed of treatment greatly enhances product safety, as well as offering substantial energy savings. A further benefit is the continuous process which not only enhances operating flexibility but also ensures homogeneity of treatment by avoiding temperature differences between the beginning and end.

Future-oriented technology and comprehensive solutions

By harnessing the power and strength of MW and RF, SAIREM offers state-of-the-art solutions tailored to the needs of a wide range of food industry sectors. Substantial investments in research and development over the years have allowed the company to build an impressive portfolio of cutting-edge solutions which all can be tailored according to the requirements of each customer.

Christina Frohm Kramer, Business Development Manager, adds:

"Thanks to our more than 40 years of experience we are able to offer competitive machines with high performance technology which are specially adapted to the customer's requirements."

The SAIREM process covers all angles: proof of operation and extensive testing is performed at the SAIREM lab, development engineers support customers during the design phase, equipment design and assembly is provided, and a factory acceptance test as well as installation and start up at customers’ facilities is carried out. To round off its comprehensive customer service, SAIREM trains customer technicians and offers maintenance performed by a multilingual customer service team.