Process / Product quality benefits
- Fully homogeneous, agglomerate-free reconstituted milk
- Reliable suitability for pasteurisation and re-drying
- Consistent recovery of off-spec powder batches
- Standardised process & repeatable recipe
Previously unsuccessful methods
Before implementing the Fristam solution, the customer reconstituted dried milk powder using conventional in-tank blending.
Powder was added from above into a vessel equipped with a top-entry mixer or internal agitation device, relying on bulk circulation within the tank to disperse and hydrate the powder.
This approach often resulted in slow wetting, floating powder, and the formation of agglomerates that required extended mixing times to resolve and reduced the practicality of recovering off-spec powder batches.
Fristam’s solution
Fristam implemented their PM – a powder-liquid mixing system combining an FZ liquid-ring induction pump with an FS shear blender. This configuration enabled controlled powder induction, rapid dispersion and final homogenisation of dried milk powder directly into water.
The system delivered reliable incorporation rates, simple setup and consistent production of homogeneous reconstituted milk ready for pasteurisation and re-drying.
Trial set up
1. Water was supplied from a 50,000-litre vessel, with suction conditions controlled to maintain stable negative pressure at the mixer inlet.
2. The FZ liquid-ring pump was started to generate vacuum under the mixers hopper.
3. Dried milk powder was introduced via 25 kg bags and drawn into the liquid stream at a rate of approximately one bag per minute. A gentle vibrator attached to the hopper helped the powder flow smoothly downwards.
4. The powder and liquid met under the hopper, where the powders were immediately wetted. This pre-mix was then passed through the FS Shear Blender, which created a fully homogeneous blend of water and milk powder.
5. Mixing continued until a 10:1 liquid-to-powder ratio was achieved, after which the reconstituted milk was sampled for laboratory analysis.
A successful outcome with Fristam Powder Mixer
Laboratory analysis confirmed a fully homogeneous reconstituted milk free from agglomerates. The system performed successfully on the first trial, proved simple to set up and operate, and was subsequently adopted by the customer for routine milk powder reconstitution – typically processing around 4,000 kg of powder per batch.
Sustainability benefits
- Reduced material waste through recovery and reuse of off-spec powder
- Improved resource efficiency in dairy ingredient production
Financial benefits
- Recovery of previously unsaleable production batches – helping to increase profits
- Efficient high-rate powder incorporation supporting productivity
- Lower energy consumption than tank mixing production
Other benefits
- Simple setup and ease of operation during first trial and ongoing
- Waist height powder incorporation – improves health and safety, as operators do not need to climb ladders with heavy powder bags
- Quick process – 25kg of powder added every 1 minute
- Scalable processing of large powder quantities in routine production