Process Tank

A process tank is a hygienic production vessel in which liquid and semi-fluid food is mixed, heated or cooled and processed to recipe. The shell and all product-contact surfaces are made of AISI 316L stainless steel; compared with 304, 316L is more resistant to chlorides and acidic media, which is why it is preferred for products with high salt and acid loads such as tomato paste, ketchup and pickle brine. The tank is configured in 500, 750 and 1000 litre capacities. A heating and cooling jacket brings product to the required temperature profile; for products requiring emulsification, a high-speed rotor-stator homogenizer combines the oil and water phases stably, while a low-speed agitator circulates the full volume. A wall scraper prevents product from sticking and scorching on the jacketed surface and reduces the residue left in the tank at end of batch — with viscous products this translates directly into yield. Capacity is selected by batch size, not by daily total. A plant producing 3,000 litres of sauce per day runs three batches with a 1000 litre tank or six with a 500 litre tank; as batch count rises, so do heating-cooling and CIP cycles, shortening effective production time. Conversely, in batches below the tank's minimum working volume the agitator cannot engage the product, so the largest tank is not always the right choice. Automation runs via PLC and touchscreen; the CIP system allows hygienic cleaning without dismantling the tank. A hygienic bottom outlet and lobe pump transfer viscous product to the next unit without exposing it to shear. Temperature control, quick-discharge valve, temperature indicator and lid automation are available as options. The process tank sits in the preparation section of sauce, mayonnaise, ketchup, tomato paste, milk and yoghurt lines and typically feeds the filling unit. ProcessTürk delivers the tank standalone or as part of a turnkey line; mixing and jacket configuration are engineered around your product type, viscosity, batch size and heat treatment needs.