Benefits
The Tetra Pak® Casomatic system MC3 module enables you to produce cheese and whey of high quality in a very efficient way. It provides a fully automatic and continuous system for whey drainage, pre-pressing, accurate cheese block formation and mould filling in one sequence.
The equipment is suitable for the production of hard and semi-hard cheese types. By adding a de-wheying screen, granular cheese types can also be produced.
The high capacity per column is reached by the application of a flexible whey drainage system. Tetra Pak Casomatic system MC3 is the system to choose when producing cheese of various sizes.
Tetra Pak Casomatic system MC3 offers the following advantages:
- Flexibility in cheese size and shape
- Maximum efficiency
- Optimal flexibility
- Good cheese and whey quality
- Excellent weight accuracy
- Accurate moisture content
- Reliable performance
- Improved environmental performance
Quick facts
Multi column system for draining and forming of semi-hard and hard cheeses
Capacity
800 – 1900 kg/h per column (total depends on the number of columns, cheese types and dimensions)
Applications
Hard and semi-hard cheese
Efficient cheese production with flexible format
- Maximum yield, with tightly controlled process that eliminates weight and moisture variations
- Multi-column concept enables efficient, high-capacity production of small cheeses on a relatively small surface area (each column is only 2.5m x 1m)
- Freedom to produce cheeses of different formats and varieties on one machine
Features
Dimple jacket cooling
Reduces variations in moisture content
A dimple jacket is wrapped around the conical part of the buffer tank, cooling the curd/whey mixture during filling, residence and emptying. This slows down the acidification process, thereby limiting the degree of variation in moisture content of the final cheeses from beginning to end of batch.
Buffer tank design
Ensures a consistent whey /curd ratio
Based on many years of accumulated expertise and experience, we’ve developed a buffer tank with the optimal inner dimensions and agitator to maintain an almost constant ratio of curd and whey and a constant curd particle distribution. This results in a curd mixture of uniform consistency to be fed into the casomatic system.
Drainage system
Controls the volume of whey that is drained off
The drainage system is divided into three perforated sections, gently draining off whey at each step until the desired amount (according to the pre-set recipe) has been removed - in order to create a stable, compact curd block. A regulating membrane valve is used to control the flow of whey and ensure the optimal amount is removed. The gentleness of the process keeps the product intact and minimizes losses.
Whey circulation system
Keeps the machine clean during production
A whey circulation system keeps the curd fines in the draining section in motion and prevents sedimentation. Flow dividers minimize curd build-up on the flanges of the inserts, limiting the growth of microorganisms during production and enabling a shorter CIP cycle.
Dosing chamber design
For more hygienic production
The enclosed dosing chamber is designed to allow whey to flow down from top to bottom, preventing any curd build-up. This continuous flow of whey is combined with regular flushing to minimize bacterial growth and enable longer production runs.
Automation system
Monitors production and compensates for disturbances
Our advanced control software is programmed to continuously monitor production and minimize the effects of any unexpected disturbances on the line. Since the composition of cheese changes rapidly, it is important to compensate for any deviation in production by e.g. adjusting cutting height or cooling the buffer tank. The control system does this automatically, without the need for any operator intervention.
Conveyor
Gentle handling
Presenting moulds to the columns, collecting curd blocks and transporting the filled moulds to the pressing system, the mould conveyor handles your product gently every step of the way. It includes a lifting buffering system to ensure the curd blocks land softly in the mould on the conveyor, and smooth transport from the columns to the presses.
Column inserts
Enable production of different shaped cheeses
Different types of inserts inside the column determine the shape of the cheese being made. With multiple pipes and independent drainage sections you can produce a high volume of small cheeses. The inserts are easy to change in between production runs and the job only takes approx. 30 minutes per column. Once formed, the cheeses are placed in single or multi-moulds, as needed.
