Freeze-Dried Durian Case Study
How a food processor in Rayong Province, Thailand used an SDG1100 30㎡ freeze dryer to process approximately 390 kg of frozen-and-cut fresh durian per batch and complete drying in 13 hours. The customer later customized 5 freeze dryers in separate batches.
Quick Facts
This durian project used real production data instead of general marketing claims. The data helps food manufacturers evaluate batch capacity, pretreatment method, cold trap capacity, drying time, vacuum range, energy cost, and long-term equipment reliability.
| Location | Rayong Province, Thailand |
|---|---|
| Year | 2015 |
| Product | Freeze-dried durian |
| Equipment | SDG1100 freeze dryer |
| Customer Order | 5 customized freeze dryers ordered in separate batches |
| Drying Area | 30㎡ |
| Fresh Durian Loading | 13 kg/㎡ |
| Fresh Durian Load per Batch | Approx. 390 kg |
| Pretreatment | Frozen first, then cut into pieces |
| Time to Dry | 13 hours |
| Final Moisture Content | 2.09% |
| Vacuum Range | 30–90 Pa |
| Condenser Capacity | 2 kg water/㎡/hour |
| Total Condenser Capacity | Approx. 60 kg water/hour |
| Energy Consumption | 1.73 kWh/kg fresh material |
| Estimated Batch Electricity Use | Approx. 674.7 kWh |
Commercial Freeze-Dried Durian Production
In 2015, a food processing customer in Rayong Province, Thailand used an SDG1100 30㎡ commercial freeze dryer to produce freeze-dried durian for commercial tropical fruit processing.
After the initial production results, the customer continued to customize freeze-drying equipment in separate batches. In total, the customer ordered 5 customized freeze dryers for durian and tropical fruit production, which showed long-term confidence in the drying performance, equipment reliability, and engineering support.
Durian is a high-value tropical fruit, but it is also difficult to handle because the pulp is soft, sticky, and easy to deform. For this reason, the customer froze the durian first and then cut it into pieces before drying.
For this project, fresh durian was loaded at 13 kg per square meter. With a total drying area of 30㎡, the batch loading capacity reached approximately 390 kg of fresh durian per batch.
This calculation helps buyers understand real production capacity. Drying area alone is not enough; loading density, pretreatment method, and drying time must be evaluated together.
The Challenge: Drying Soft and Sticky Durian Efficiently
Fresh durian pulp is soft and sticky. Freezing before cutting helped improve handling, reduce deformation, and support more stable tray loading.
Soft Fruit Pulp
Fresh durian pulp is soft and can deform easily during cutting and loading.
Frozen Before Cutting
Freezing first helped improve cutting quality and reduce shape damage.
High Moisture Load
Durian contains significant moisture, so cold trap capacity and vacuum control are important.
Vacuum Stability
The drying process operated within a 30–90 Pa vacuum range.
Final Moisture Control
The final moisture content reached 2.09%, supporting commercial product stability.
Repeat Customization
The customer later customized 5 freeze dryers in separate batches, showing confidence in the equipment and support.
SDG1100 30㎡ Freeze Dryer
The SDG1100 freeze dryer was selected to support medium-scale durian production, stable vacuum control, predictable batch drying, and practical energy consumption.
- 30㎡ drying area for medium-scale tropical fruit production
- 13 kg/㎡ fresh durian loading density
- Frozen first, then cut into pieces for better handling
- 30–90 Pa vacuum range during drying
- 2 kg water/㎡/hour condenser capture capacity
- Customer customized 5 freeze dryers in separate batches
Real Drying Data for Durian Freeze-Drying
This section gives buyers practical reference data. It shows how loading density, pretreatment, vacuum control, condenser capacity, final moisture, energy use, and repeat orders reflect actual production performance.
In this project, the SDG1100 processed about 390 kg of frozen-and-cut fresh durian per batch. The drying cycle was completed in 13 hours, and the final moisture content reached 2.09%.
| Product | Durian |
|---|---|
| Pretreatment | Frozen first, then cut into pieces |
| Fresh Material Loading | 13 kg/㎡ |
| Total Fresh Durian Load | Approx. 390 kg/batch |
| Vacuum Range | 30–90 Pa |
| Condenser Capacity | 2 kg water/㎡/hour |
| Total Condenser Capacity | Approx. 60 kg water/hour |
| Final Moisture | 2.09% |
| Energy Consumption | 1.73 kWh/kg fresh material |
| Drying Time | 13 hours |
| Repeat Order | 5 customized freeze dryers in separate batches |
Production Result: 13-Hour Drying Cycle and Repeat Customization
The SDG1100 30㎡ freeze dryer completed the durian drying process in approximately 13 hours. The final moisture content reached 2.09%, and the customer later customized 5 freeze dryers in separate batches.
Why These Data Points Matter
For commercial freeze dryer buyers, real production data is more useful than general machine descriptions. These parameters help estimate output, freeze dryer cost, and equipment suitability.
1. Loading Density
The customer loaded fresh durian at 13 kg/㎡. For a 30㎡ freeze dryer, this means approximately 390 kg of fresh durian per batch. This gives buyers a clearer way to estimate production capacity.
2. Condenser Capacity
The condenser capacity was 2 kg water/㎡/hour. Based on a 30㎡ drying area, the maximum condenser capture capacity reached approximately 60 kg water/hour during high-load drying stages.
3. Repeat Customization
The customer customized 5 freeze dryers in separate batches. For food manufacturers, repeat orders usually indicate that the equipment has met practical production needs, including drying performance, reliability, and engineering support.
What Food Manufacturers Can Learn from This Case
This Rayong Province durian project shows that tropical fruit freeze-drying equipment should be evaluated by real drying performance, repeat production results, and long-term customer trust.
The customer’s repeat customization of 5 freeze dryers also provides an important trust signal. For food manufacturers, repeat orders usually indicate that the equipment has met practical production needs, including drying performance, reliability, and after-sales engineering support.
Pretreatment Matters
Durian is soft and sticky. Freezing before cutting can help improve handling, reduce deformation, and support stable loading.
Ask for Real Drying Data
Fresh load, final moisture, vacuum range, condenser capacity, and energy use provide more value than general supplier claims.
Look for Repeat Orders
Repeat customization can be a stronger trust signal than a single purchase because it reflects real production experience.
Match Machine Size to Production Stage
A 30㎡ freeze dryer can be a practical choice for medium-scale commercial tropical fruit production before scaling to larger systems.
Continue Reading
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