The company produces Golden Wonder’s pot noodles and is using a KH109 industrial multi-tube heat exchanger for its palm oil to fry the instant noodles.
The HRS K series’ is used for steam to oil applications and comes with corrugated tubes to increase heat transfer rates covering a high transfer surface area within a compact space.
Thermal efficiency
Tim Strowbridge, project engineer, Symington’s, said frying is an essential part of the noodle treatment process as it reduces the amount of moisture in the product that prevents microbiological growth, and improves flavour and texture.
“Relocating our noodle operations from China to the UK is an important step in our overall growth strategy,” he said.
“The entire design offered by HRS was focused on maximizing thermal efficiency of our noddle plant.”
Non-stop cycle
Stephen Wooler, technical design engineer, HRS Heat Exchangers, added the turbulent flow within the corrugated tubes eliminates the presence of stagnant areas and ensures the oil is heated to the required temperature in a non-stop cycle.
Installed on a freestanding vertical frame, the customised system supplied by HRS fits within the 70,000 sq ft (6,500 sq m) factory’s current dimensions and improves condensate drainage, which was a major consideration for Symington’s.
The tubes were also sized to allow some particle carry over from the cooking process.
Corrosion resistant
“The K series design makes it corrosion resistant and ideal for applications such as CIP heating. Symington’s asked us to supply a tailored thermal processing unit that would make their noodle manufacturing more efficient,” said Wooler.
Symington’s traditionally bought their ingredients from China but since relocating to a £15m production base within the UK to meet supplier demand it has cancelled contracts with two Chinese factories, one in Guangzhou province and one in Hangzhou.
Symington's said it used to take eight to 10 weeks to source noodles from China and labour costs have increased significantly there in the last couple of years.
HRS is a manufacturer of steam to oil heat exchangers made from standard and certified stainless steel. It has offices in Spain, Germany, USA, Peru, Middle East, Malaysia and India and manufacturing and assembly plants in the UK, India, Dubai and Spain.
Unilever licensing deal
Symington’s recently signed a licensing deal with Unilever to manufacture Chicken Tonight, Raguletto and Five Brothers in Australia and New Zealand.
Under the terms of the deal, the brands will continue to be produced at Unilever’s factory in Victoria, Australia.
In 2011, the company acquired the rights to the Chicken Tonight and another sauce brand, Ragu, in the UK and Ireland.
For the Australian venture, Symington’s will set up an office in Melbourne to oversee the Australian wet sauces portfolio.