Hydraulic cradle vats for pasta filata cheese production
Optimize your cheese production line with versatile hydraulic setting vats designed to ensure precise coagulation, maturation, and curd handling for high-quality pasta filata cheeses, such as mozzarella and provolone. Experience seamless integration for enhanced efficiency and quality control in dairy processing operations.

Processes and Coagulates Cheese Curds Efficiently
The hydraulic setting vats from GEA are engineered for cheese manufacturers seeking precise control over the coagulation and maturation of curds, crucial in producing pasta filata cheeses such as mozzarella, provolone, and scamorza. These vats support production capacities of 3,000 to 5,000 liters per cycle, catering to operations of any scale. The system utilizes a cradle design that allows overturning, integrating a curd churner with electro-polished blades and stirrers for thorough cutting and mixing of the curd. Featuring a steam- or water-heated jacket, the vats ensure consistent cooking and temperature maintenance. A PLC-controlled system governs mechanical operations, from churning cycles to the oleohydraulic-driven emptying system, enhancing automation and production efficiency. Constructed from AISI 304 stainless steel and lined with food-grade seals, the vats meet high standards of hygiene and sanitization, facilitated by a built-in CIP system. With customization options available, these vats offer flexibility to align with specific production line requirements while ensuring energy-efficient operation through optimized motor control.
Benefits
- Enhances product consistency by ensuring precise curd coagulation and maturation.
- Increases production efficiency with automated PLC-controlled cycles and hydraulic emptying.
- Maintains high sanitation standards with integrated cleaning-in-place (CIP) capabilities.
- Versatile capacity range supports both small and large-scale cheese production.
- Energy-efficient operation reduces operational costs with optimized heating control.
- Applications
- Mozzarella,Cheese,Pizza cheese,Provolone,Pasta filata cheeses,Scamorza
- End products
- Sliced mozzarella,Shredded mozzarella,Mozzarella braids,Cheese curds,Pizza topping mozzarella,Smoked provolone,Scamorza affumicata,Mozzarella balls,Provolone wheels,String cheese
- Steps before
- Milk Collection,Milk Pasteurization,Milk Standardization
- Steps after
- Curd Draining,Whey Removal,Curd Cooking,Curd Maturation
- Input ingredients
- milk,whey
- Output ingredients
- curd,whey,cheese,pasta filata cheese,mozzarella,mozzarella balls,mozzarella braids,pizza cheese,provolone,scamorza
- Market info
- GEA is known for its expertise in engineering innovative and sustainable equipment and solutions, focusing on sectors such as food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and energy, with a reputation for quality, efficiency, and advanced technological applications in industrial processing.
- Capacity
- 3,000–5,000 liters per cycle
- Material
- AISI 304 stainless steel
- Automation
- PLC-controlled
- Temperature Control
- Steam or water-heated jacket
- Churner Type
- Electro polished blades and stirrers
- Curd Maturation
- Whey or out of whey process
- Cycling Control
- Electronic motor with inverter
- Cleaning System
- Cleaning-in-place (CIP)
- Vat Emptying
- Oleohydraulic system with pistons
- Working mechanism
- Hydraulic overturning cradle
- Integrated steps
- Coagulation,churning,maturation,drainage
- CIP principles
- Internal rotary sprinklers for cleaning
- Batch vs. inline flow
- Batch
- Temperature control
- Steam or water-heated jacket
- Automation level
- PLC-controlled
- Curd handling
- Oleohydraulic system
- Density/particle size
- 0.5–2.5 g/cm³ / 50–1000 µm
- Tank shape and size
- 3,000 – 5,000 liters
- Material
- AISI 304 stainless steel
- Heating Jacket
- Steam- or water-heated
- Curd churner
- Electro polished blades and stirrers
- Discharge method
- Oleohydraulic system with pistons
- Control panel type
- PLC-control with inverter
- Integration possibilities
- Cleaning-in-place (CIP) integration
- Capacity range
- 3,000–5,000 liters
- Temperature control
- Steam- or water-heated jacket
- Material construction
- AISI 304 stainless steel