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ThermaBlend® Industrial Cooker
The ThermaBlend® Cooker by Mepaco® is a high performance thermal batch processor for largescale food production. With up to 50% more heat transfer area than conventional kettles, it ensures faster cook cycles and superior product integrity.
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Engineered for Performance and Versatility
Versatile Processing: Handles cooking, searing, caramelizing, sautéing, chilling, and blending for products like stews, sauces, pet food, and pie fillings.
Efficient Heating Options: Offers direct steam injection for rapid heating and indirect steam via ASME-certified jackets for controlled cooking. Dual-zone jackets and cryogenic cooling add flexibility.
Superior Agitation: Reversing agitators with VFD speed control (6–30 RPM) and customizable ribbons, paddles, or thermal screws deliver uniform blending with minimal shear.
Sanitary Design: Designed for strict food safety standards, the ThermaBlend® Cooker features a patented bi-directional scraper to reduce burn-on and improve heat transfer for easier cleaning. CIP options enable automated wash cycles, while an electropolished finish offers a smooth, corrosion-resistant surface that minimizes microbial adhesion.
Robust Construction: Built by ASME-certified welders using 304 or 316L stainless steel for durability in demanding environments.
Smart Controls: Equipped with NEMA 4X enclosures, multistep control packages, recipe and batch automation, and HMI interfaces for precise thermal processing goals.
Application Customization
- Reversing agitators with VFD speed control from 6 – 30 RPM
- Wrap around steam jacket, 90 – 130 PSI with SS heat shields
- RTD probe with digital steam controller
- Range of agitator options tailored to the application
- Hinged, air operated, domed gasketed cover
- Single or dual air-operated discharge doors
- Solenoid air valves control cover and discharge doors
- Direct or indirect steam injection
- Vacuum cooling package
- Electropolished interior finish
- Cryogenic cooling
- Direct steam injection
- Kettle valve options
- Serpentine liquid jacket
- CIP seal assemblies, spray balls
Controls
- NEMA 4x controls: recipe & batch
- Multistep control packages
- Heavy-duty drive upgrade
- Cooling water control package
- Dual zone steam jackets
- Load-cell weighing system
- Storage and data Acquisition
- HMI (Human Machine Interface)
Frequently Asked Questions
The options are Cryogen (CO2 or N2), vacuum cooling or cooling jacket. Consult your Mepaco representative for application support.
Direct steam injectors are more efficient for cooking; however the formulation will pick up moisture. In addition to higher efficiencies, direct steam does not require a scraper used to prevent burn-on to the inside surfaces of the tub.
Scrapers are needed when the potential for burn-on exists. This is typical when using indirect methods for cooking. Scrapers eliminate burn-on which reduces the heat transfer coefficient. Scraper systems also provide cooking consistency with sensitive cooking applications.
Scrapers can be clean-in-place or removed for cleaning, depending on product and sanitation protocol.
If the scraper doesn’t function properly and leaves residual burn-on, it is a sign that the scraper needs to be replaced. Upon visual inspection, the edges of the scraper will be rounded and worn at which point the scraper needs to be replaced.
If product needs to be scraped, a ThermaBlend™ is recommended since it is designed with a “wrap around” jacket. In addition, when you are cooking and cooling in the same vessel, the ThermaBlend™ design lends itself to the drastic changes in temperatures.
Applications with thick and dense product need a dual screw. Also, if you have a variety of suspended solids, the dual screw units tend to do a good job of mixing and cooking while maintaining a homogeneous blend – even for the most delicate particulates. Single screw units are often used for sauces, soup bases and lighter, less viscous products.
The use of a serpentine style jacket is a possibility, but there may be issues with inefficiency and cross contamination of system media. Consult Mepaco’s technical team about your application.
We recommend a dual zone jacket when cooking with indirect steam. This allows you to only heat up the zone required to complete the the batch, saving energy and cost.
The Apache Advantage for Mepaco
Mepaco equipment gains expanded strength through Apache Stainless, adding contract manufacturing, Service 360 lifecycle support, dedicated transport, and food processing vessels for integrated solutions beyond the machine on every line.
Dedicated field service, ASME R-stamp repairs, and audit contracts to protect and extend the life of your vessel.
Specialized air-ride transportation for safe, timely, door-to-door delivery of even the most oversized and high-value equipment.
In-house passivation, pickling, and electropolishing to guarantee the precise corrosion resistance and hygienic finish required.