A partnership has been established between a renowned Lithuanian bakery, Mantinga, and Starfrost, a leading manufacturer of freezing equipment. This collaboration has resulted in the installation of a state-of-the-art spiral freezer system, which is helping Mantinga solidify its position as a key player in the global market for frozen bakery and convenience foods. With an impressive annual export of over 1 billion products to more than 40 countries, Mantinga is consistently investing in its growth. Recently, the bakery funded £18 million into cutting-edge processing lines and facilities, including automated freezing systems.
The partnership between Mantinga and Starfrost began in 2015 when the bakery sought to revolutionize its freezing process. By replacing labor-intensive IQF blast freezers with a spiral freezer system, Mantinga automated its manual freezing method with great success. This initial collaboration led to Starfrost being designated as Mantinga’s preferred supplier for cooling equipment solutions. Subsequent equipment installations, guided by Starfrost’s expertise, further supported Mantinga’s growth and success.
Most notably, Starfrost’s latest collaboration with Mantinga involved the design, manufacture, and installation of a cutting-edge helix spiral freezer. This system is now the fourth Starfrost freezer incorporated into Mantinga’s operations and has the impressive capability of freezing over 1.5 tonnes of laminated dough products per hour.
Kestutis Kosuba, project manager at Mantinga, praised the latest spiral freezer from Starfrost for its seamless operation and minimal maintenance requirements. The system has been designed to eliminate drafts through product feed and outfeed openings, significantly reducing the need for defrosting to once a week. Furthermore, the defrosting, washing, and drying cycle now takes a mere five to six hours. Kosuba highlighted the reliability and energy-efficiency of Mantinga’s fully automated freezing operation, thanks to the collaboration with Starfrost.
Throughout the design phase of the partnership, Starfrost demonstrated flexibility and a commitment to understanding Mantinga’s specific requirements. From initial design to equipment installation, warranty, and post-warranty service, every aspect was handled with great care and attention to detail.
The integration of Starfrost’s latest spiral freezer has allowed Mantinga to expand its bakery operations and enhance its production capacity. The four Helix spiral freezers have streamlined freezing processes, facilitated the introduction of new production lines, reduced energy costs, and optimized production space for Mantinga.
In summary, the collaboration between Mantinga and Starfrost has propelled Mantinga’s growth in the global market for frozen bakery and convenience foods. With the installation of cutting-edge freezing systems, Mantinga’s operations have become more efficient and highly reliable, thanks to Starfrost’s expertise and commitment to meeting specific requirements.
Related content: [Food Manufacturing]