Solutions · · 4 min read
Freeze-Dried Food Line: QS-FD Dryers for Fruit, Meals and Pet Treats
A freeze-dried food line built on the QS-FD dryers: washing and preparation, loading, freeze drying at −60 °C, and packing — for fruit, vegetables, ready meals, yogurt bites and pet treats.
By the process engineering team at Supreme Beast Intelligent Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Key takeaways
- The QS-FD line is a batch process: tray area and tray count set the batch size — QS-FD-20 at about 200 kg per batch, QS-FD-100 at about 1 tonne per batch, QS-FD-200 at about 2 tonnes per batch.
- The chamber is SUS304 with four-zone heating controlled to ±0.1 °C and a Siemens S7-200 PLC, and actual power draw runs at about 60% of the listed power.
- Every capacity figure below is the verified figure for the QS-FD dryer named; anything else is confirmed against your recipe and site.
How does the line work?
Food is washed, cut and prepared, loaded onto trays, frozen and dried under vacuum, then packed. The dryer does the long step; the front end decides the quality of everything that comes out of it.
- Washing and preparation: fruit and vegetables are washed, peeled, cut and pre-treated to the size and shape the product needs.
- Tray loading: product is spread on trays — 84 trays on the QS-FD-20, 432 on the QS-FD-100, 864 on the QS-FD-200 — with even loading so every tray dries the same way.
- Freezing: the loaded chamber is brought down to −60 °C so the water in the product freezes before drying starts.
- Freeze drying: under vacuum, the frozen water is removed directly from the product. Four-zone heating, controlled to ±0.1 °C, drives the drying, and the Siemens S7-200 PLC runs the program.
- Unloading and packing: trays are unloaded and the product is packed promptly into moisture-proof packs.
Which machines are in the line?
Each machine below is a listed product on this site. The capacity shown is the listed capacity on that product page — open the link to see the full specification.
| Machine | Listed capacity |
|---|---|
| QS-FD-20 Freeze Dryer — 20.16 m², 84 trays, 35 kW, about 200 kg/batch | About 200 kg/batch |
| QS-FD-100 Freeze Dryer — 103.68 m², 432 trays, 135 kW, about 1 t/batch | About 1 t/batch |
| QS-FD-200 Freeze Dryer — 207.36 m², 864 trays, about 2 t/batch | About 2 t/batch |
| Roller Brush Washer for Fruit & Vegetables | Customised |
How is capacity confirmed?
Capacity is confirmed against your recipe and site. The QS-FD-20 is verified at 20.16 m² with 84 trays and about 200 kg per batch at 35 kW; the QS-FD-100 at 103.68 m² with 432 trays and about 1 tonne per batch at 135 kW; the QS-FD-200 at 207.36 m² with 864 trays and about 2 tonnes per batch, with total power to be confirmed by engineering. Actual power draw runs at about 60% of listed power. Prices are verified for the QS-FD-100 only: USD 238,645 for the standard round-chamber model and USD 328,135 for the high-specification square-chamber model. Drying time per batch varies by product, so daily output is set by your product and the batches your schedule runs — we never quote a fixed time per batch.
Frequently asked questions
Which QS-FD dryer fits a new freeze-dried food plant?
Start from the batch size you need: about 200 kg per batch points to the QS-FD-20, about 1 tonne to the QS-FD-100, about 2 tonnes to the QS-FD-200. Tell us your product and daily target and we confirm the model and the number of dryers.
What products can the line freeze-dry?
Fruit and vegetables, ready meals, yogurt bites and pet treats are the verified applications. Single materials are dried as they are; mixed formulations are the brand owner's recipe, and we dry the single materials in it.
What does the QS-FD-100 cost?
The standard round-chamber model is USD 238,645 and the high-specification square-chamber model is USD 328,135, with upgraded electrical, automation and vacuum pump equipment. Other models are priced in the quotation.
What is the lead time and warranty?
Lead time is about 3 months from order, FOB Shanghai port, with a 12-month warranty. Our engineers commission the dryer on site and train your operators.