Industrial In-Pan Tunnel Coolers
The Henry Group designs and manufactures in-pan tunnel ambient or conditioned coolers used for cooling products in foils or pans. These industrial bakery tunnel coolers have a mesh belt conveyor surface and typically are a direct horizontal transfer from a tunnel oven. Optional stainless insulated enclosure systems, ductwork, and conditioning units are available for conditioned cooling when required. Cooling temperature is controlled with the system PLC.
How an In-Pan Tunnel Cooler Works
Product leaves the tunnel oven in its pans or foils and moves straight onto the cooler's mesh belt, usually as a direct horizontal transfer, so nothing has to be picked up or turned between the two machines. The belt carries the product through the cooler for the time it needs to cool before depanning or packaging. The open mesh lets air reach the bottoms of the pans as well as the tops.
An ambient cooler uses room air. A conditioned cooler runs inside a stainless insulated enclosure, with ductwork and a conditioning unit supplying cooled air. In both, the system PLC controls the cooling temperature.
Products and Applications
In-pan tunnel coolers are used on many cake lines, and suit any product that is baked in, and needs to cool in, its pan or foil tray.
Where It Fits in the Line
Upstream, the cooler is laid out with the tunnel oven so pans cross from the oven discharge onto the cooler belt. Where the layout doesn't allow a straight run, THG builds in-pan cooler transfer loaders. Downstream, cooled product moves on to vacuum depanners or, for product in foil, toward packaging, while empty pans can return through pan cleaners. THG builds the conveyors and loaders and unloaders that connect these steps, and can supply the complete line from proofing through cooling.
Configuration Options
- Ambient or conditioned cooling
- Stainless insulated enclosure, ductwork and conditioning units for conditioned cooling
- Cooler length sized to the cooling time the product needs
- Cooling temperature control from the system PLC
- In-pan cooler transfer loaders where the cooler does not run straight off the oven
Service and Parts
THG's cooler services cover in-pan coolers, including rebuilds, upgrades and repairs, replacement parts, and installations and relocations. THG also rebuilds and repairs in-pan coolers built by other manufacturers. See all bakery cooling systems.
Common questions
Should our in-pan cooler be ambient or conditioned?
It depends on the product, how long it needs to cool, the room the cooler runs in and the length available. An ambient cooler uses room air. A conditioned cooler adds an insulated enclosure and a conditioning unit, so it can cool product where room air can't do it in the time or space available. THG sizes the cooler to your product.
How does product get from the oven to the cooler?
Usually by direct horizontal transfer: the cooler's mesh belt picks up the pans at the oven discharge. Where the layout doesn't allow a straight run, THG builds in-pan cooler transfer loaders.
Who services in-pan coolers?
THG's cooler services team rebuilds, repairs and relocates in-pan coolers and supplies replacement parts, for coolers from THG and other manufacturers.
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