The annual export volume of fruits and vegetables has already reached one-third of China's total fruit and vegetable exports. However, the industry has long faced a major challenge: the high energy consumption during the drying process, which significantly reduces the nutritional value of dehydrated and frozen products. After years of research and technological breakthroughs, the "Key Technology Research and Application of High-quality Drying Techniques for Fruits and Vegetables Foods," developed jointly by Ningbo Haitong Food Science and Technology Co., Ltd. and Jiangnan University, has successfully addressed this issue and won the second prize in the National Scientific and Technological Progress Award.
Currently, the scale of China’s fruit and vegetable processing industry reaches an annual sales volume of 20 billion yuan. Yet, the reality is that traditional processing methods consume large amounts of energy, and the profits from fruit and vegetable exports are often affected by poor product quality. This project was initiated under such circumstances. According to Sun Jincai, chief engineer at Ningbo Haitong Food Technology Co., Ltd., the goal was to develop more efficient and sustainable drying technologies that would improve both product quality and energy efficiency.
The project introduced innovative techniques such as vacuum frying, freeze-drying, combined drying, and hot-air drying, among others. These technologies effectively address the common issues of quality degradation and instability in traditional drying processes. Additionally, they help reduce energy use and emissions in the high-energy-consuming drying industry.
Sun Jincai explained that many people worry about significant nutrient loss during the drying process. This new technology aims to preserve the original nutritional content of fruits and vegetables, making them nearly as nutritious as fresh produce. For example, one vacuum freezing technique can limit nutrient loss to within 10%, while maintaining the taste and color of the original product.
In terms of energy efficiency, the new method has significantly reduced the time and power needed for drying. While traditional techniques take over 20 hours to dry fresh cabbage, this advanced method completes the process in just 16 hours—cutting energy consumption by more than 30%.
“This technology provides strong technical support for expanding our country’s share in the global market for dried fruit and vegetable products,†said an official from the science and technology management department. The author learned that this achievement has been applied in 10 companies, including Ningbo Haitong and Shandong Luhua Group, resulting in the establishment of 72 new high-quality drying production lines. These innovations have not only enhanced competitiveness but also led to the production of nearly 100,000 tons of high-quality dehydrated fruit and vegetable products, generating over 622 million yuan in profit and tax revenue.
The application of this technology has also benefited farmers by extending the agricultural supply chain and addressing the issue of increased production without corresponding income growth. Currently, nearly 200,000 mu of farmland in China are using this technology to grow fruits and vegetables. (From Willow)
Iron Investment Casting
Iron Investment Casting, also known as iron lost wax casting or ferrous investment casting, is a manufacturing process that involves pouring molten iron into a mould made from a wax pattern. The wax pattern is created by injecting molten wax into a mould cavity formed around a pattern of the desired part. Once the wax pattern is coated with ceramic material and dried, it is heated to melt and remove the wax, leaving a cavity in the shape of the desired part. Molten iron is then poured into the cavity and allowed to solidify, creating a final iron casting with intricate details and high dimensional accuracy.
The materials commonly used in iron investment casting include various grades of iron, such as grey iron, ductile iron, and alloyed iron. Grey iron, known for its high carbon content and graphite flakes, offers good machinability and damping capacity, making it suitable for applications requiring vibration absorption. Ductile iron, also known as nodular iron or spheroidal graphite iron, exhibits enhanced strength, ductility, and wear resistance compared to grey iron, making it ideal for components subjected to high stress and impact loads. Alloyed iron, which incorporates alloying elements such as chromium, nickel, and molybdenum, offers improved mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, expanding its application range in demanding environments.
Overall, iron investment casting provides manufacturers with the flexibility to produce complex iron components with precise dimensions and superior surface finish, making it a preferred choice for various industries, including automotive, aerospace, machinery, and infrastructure.
iron casting parts,cast iron parts,ductile iron investment casting,grey iron castings,gray iron castings
Taiyuan Simis Investment Casting Co., Ltd , https://www.precision-casting.biz