Air Products Will Exhibit Its Freshline® Solutions at International Poultry Expo to Help Processors Improve Productivity, Lower Costs and Produce High-Quality Products

News provided by

Jan 17, 2012, 09:51 ET

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Poultry processors looking for ways to improve productivity, increase product yield and lower costs while producing high-quality products can turn to Air Products' (NYSE: APD) Freshline® solutions. The company will be highlighting its range of technology and equipment solutions for freezing, chilling, mixing, forming and more at the International Poultry Expo (IPE) in Atlanta, Ga. from January 24-26.

Air Products' portfolio of Freshline solutions includes cryogenic food processing equipment that uses liquid nitrogen (LIN) to rapidly chill, cool or freeze a high-quality product. Accounting for more than three-quarters of the earth's atmosphere, nitrogen is plentiful, making it a reliable alternative to carbon dioxide, which experiences regular, seasonal supply shortages. Air Products offers nitrogen in a variety of supply modes that can match the volume requirements of any size operation.

Among the offerings that Air Products will highlight at this year's IPE is Freshline® LIN-IS, which is a specially designed liquid nitrogen injection solution that can be retrofitted to new or existing mixers, grinders and blenders for fast, consistent and repeatable cooling. LIN-IS can be used to manage the temperature of minced or chopped proteins through controlled injection of liquid nitrogen into the product during mixing, which can reduce the difficulty of subsequent forming caused by machine-generated heat.

In addition, Air Products offers cryogenic freezers that use the ultra-fast freezing power of liquid nitrogen (LIN), which can help poultry processors improve yield and enhance product quality. The Freshline® DM tunnel freezer is a highly flexible option that allows manufacturers to process both IQF (individually quick frozen) and flat or trayed products in a single machine. The company also offers its new Freshline® QS tunnel freezer, which is an economical and easy-to-operate option for food processors who want to convert to continuous freezing, alleviate a bottleneck in their operation, or grow and diversify their existing product line. The QS freezer is ideal for smaller volume food processors and start-ups who want to quickly begin freezing a high-quality product with minimal upfront cost.

Air Products will have food specialists on-hand at Booth #6324 to explain the benefits of using cryogenics for poultry processing, help identify ways to get more value out of existing equipment and processes, and discuss Air Products' full range of Freshline solutions for the poultry industry.

In addition, the company will perform live liquid nitrogen (LIN) freezing demonstrations to illustrate the rapid freezing ability of LIN. Due to the extremely cold temperature of LIN (-196 degrees C), food can be frozen within minutes instead of the hours traditionally required with other systems. A quick freeze results in the formation of smaller ice crystals, which causes less damage to a product's cellular structure. This enables food products to maintain moisture, which not only improves texture, color and flavor, but also translates into smaller weight losses from dehydration and higher yields. The LIN demonstrations will conclude with making "LIN cream"—Air Products' unique ice cream treat made with liquid nitrogen—for all booth visitors to enjoy.

Air Products has been providing the food industry with solutions for freezing, chilling, coating, mixing, forming, packaging and wastewater treatment for more than 40 years. With state-of-the-art, fully-equipped food laboratories in the U.S., Europe and Asia, Air Products can test a customer's product to determine the feasibility of using the company's Freshline solutions for their specific process. For more information or to schedule a product trial, call 1-800-654-4567 (610-706-4730 outside of the U.S.), or visit us online at www.airproducts.com/industries/FoodBeverage.aspx.

Air Products (NYSE: APD) serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services. Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment. In fiscal 2011, Air Products had revenues of $10.1 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and 18,900 employees around the globe. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

***NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management's reasonable expectations and assumptions as of the date of this release regarding important risk factors. Actual performance and financial results may differ materially from projections and estimates expressed in the forward-looking statements because of many factors not anticipated by management, including risk factors described in the Company's Form 10K for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2011.

SOURCE Air Products