Dry air from Munters dehumidifier enables Danish fish slaughterhouses to fulfil strict demands from authorities.
Danish company AquaPri produces hand-picked seafood such as eel, trout, trout roe and caviar. In its harvesting plant, a large amount of the trout roe is processed as Sujiko for the Japanese market. Sujiko is a Northern Japanese speciality that is only consumed on the Hokkaido peninsula.
AquaPri’s Japanese customers have their own specialists working in the Danish plant from November to January, which is the season for slaughtering. The roe is processed, salted, graded and packed in special 5kg packaging.
AquaPri has 15 inland trout farms and five sea-based farms. Most of the larger trout (ranging from 3kg to 5kg) are farmed at sea, off the coast of Denmark. Every year in April, the trout are transported from the inland trout farm to the sea. In November/December after around eight months at sea, the trout are triple in weight and are ready for slaughter. They are captured in large well boats and transported to the harvesting facility.
Fighting condensation
A huge amount of water used during the processing and the creation of condensation in the slaughter facilities was a never-ending challenge. Manual cleaning of the ceiling was not sufficient to fulfil the strict Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) regulations as to condensation control.
AquiPri contacted Munters, which presented a solution to eliminate the condensation problem.
Munters condensation control
A desiccant dehumidifier type MXT7500 was installed with ductwork for distribution of the dry air just beneath the ceiling. The dehumidifier works with a nominal airflow at 7,500m3/h and a humidity sensor placed under the ceiling controls the unit to keep the relative humidity (RH) below 60%.
In slaughter season, the factory runs two shifts, whereafter the cleaning of the facilities starts. Prior to installation of the dehumidification system, the drying after cleaning was incomplete and consequently, the formation of condensation on the ceiling became a problem right after re-starting production.
Today, the dehumidifier is in operation from right after finalised cleaning, and after one and a half hours of operation, the facilities are dry. Though the trout processing includes the use of large amounts of water, the dehumidifier MXT7500 prevents the critical condensation of the ceilings all through the two shifts.
Improved employees comfort
Facility manager Jens Paag appreciates the improved hygiene within the production facility, and so does the Japanese customer that imports more than 50% of the annual 400t of trout roe.
HACCP regulations are fulfilled and the employees experience a significant improvement of the indoor climate conditions. As the air is no longer humid and misty, they feel much more healthy with less coughing and discomfort.