Vacuum Cooler | Industrial Vacuum Cooler Manufacturer | Cold Change Group

Vacuum Coolers – Industrial Vacuum Cooling Systems for Fresh Produce

Cold Change Group supplies industrial vacuum coolers and complete vacuum cooling systems for fresh produce growers, farms, packhouses and food processors worldwide.

Our technology rapidly removes field heat from suitable fresh produce, helping achieve fast and uniform temperature reduction before refrigerated storage and distribution.

From compact single pallet systems to high-capacity 20 pallet vacuum coolers, Cold Change Group can provide equipment matched to your product, pallet configuration, cooling requirement and production throughput.

We supply commercial systems throughout the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, South America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, supported by international technical assistance, spare parts and servicing.

Explore our vacuum coolers for sale or compare the complete Cold Change Group vacuum cooler range.

What Is a Vacuum Cooler?

A vacuum cooler is an industrial pre-cooling system designed to rapidly remove heat from suitable products by reducing atmospheric pressure inside a sealed chamber.

As pressure falls, the boiling point of water decreases. A small quantity of moisture within or on the surface of the product evaporates at a low temperature.

This evaporation requires energy, which is taken from the product as heat, causing its temperature to fall rapidly.

Unlike conventional refrigerated storage, where cold air must gradually penetrate boxes and pallet loads, vacuum cooling can remove heat throughout suitable products across the load.

This makes the technology particularly effective for many leafy vegetables, mushrooms, flowers and other suitable fresh produce. https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry/century-produce-rising-importance-temperature

Why Use Industrial Vacuum Cooling?

For commercial growers and packhouses, rapid removal of field heat can provide several important advantages.

Rapid Post-Harvest Cooling

Depending on the product, load and machine specification, vacuum cooling can reduce product temperature substantially faster than relying solely on conventional cold-room cooling.

Cold Change Group systems list typical cooling cycles of approximately 8–25 minutes depending on product weight, starting temperature and required final temperature.

Uniform Cooling

Cooling can take place throughout suitable palletised products rather than relying entirely on refrigerated air gradually reaching the centre of boxes and pallets.

Improved Cold-Chain Management

Rapid vacuum pre-cooling allows harvested produce to approach its required storage temperature sooner, reducing the cooling duty placed on subsequent refrigerated storage.

Commercial Throughput

For larger growers and packhouses, equipment should be selected according to kilograms or tonnes of product per hour, not simply the number of pallets that physically fit inside the chamber.

Vacuum Cooler Sizes – Single Pallet to 20 Pallets

Cold Change Group supplies a complete range of pallet capacities for small, medium and large fresh produce operations.

Single Pallet Vacuum Cooler

Compact industrial pre-cooling for smaller production requirements and specialist applications.

2 Pallet Vacuum Cooler

A compact commercial system providing increased batch capacity for smaller and medium-sized growers.

4 Pallet Vacuum Cooler

Designed for commercial growers and packhouses requiring greater throughput from a relatively compact installation.

6 Pallet Vacuum Cooler

Increased batch capacity for growing fresh produce operations and medium-to-high-volume packhouses.

8 Pallet Vacuum Cooler

Substantial commercial cooling capacity configurable around product weight, temperature reduction and required cycle time.

10 Pallet Vacuum Cooler

A high-throughput system for operations requiring significant quantities of fresh produce to be rapidly pre-cooled.

12 Pallet Vacuum Cooler

High-volume batch cooling for larger growers, processors and fresh produce packing operations.

14 Pallet Vacuum Cooler

Designed for large commercial operations requiring substantial pallet capacity and daily throughput.

16 Pallet Vacuum Cooler

A large-capacity industrial system for major growers, packhouses and produce processors.

18 Pallet Vacuum Cooler

Designed for very high-throughput applications requiring rapid pre-cooling of large quantities of produce.

20 Pallet Vacuum Cooler

A high-capacity solution for major commercial fresh produce operations.

Can’t see the exact capacity you require?

Cold Change Group can also provide bespoke vacuum cooling systems engineered around your pallet dimensions, product weight, hourly throughput and target cooling time.

View the Complete Vacuum Cooler Range →

Vacuum Cooling for Fresh Produce

Cold Change Group systems can be designed for suitable fresh produce and horticultural applications including:

Mushrooms • Iceberg lettuce • Romaine and cos lettuce • Leafy vegetables • Baby leaf • Spinach • Rocket • Broccoli • Cauliflower • Celery • Herbs • Asparagus • Watercress • Cabbage • Leeks • Green onions • Cut flowers • Turf

Mushroom Vacuum Cooling

Mushrooms are a major commercial application for rapid pre-cooling. Removing heat quickly after harvest can help growers establish the cold chain much sooner.

Read our complete guide to vacuum cooling mushrooms.

Lettuce Vacuum Cooling

Iceberg, romaine, cos and other leafy varieties can carry substantial field heat following harvest. Vacuum pre-cooling can rapidly reduce temperature throughout suitable palletised loads before refrigerated storage and distribution.

Read our guide to vacuum cooling lettuce.

Broccoli & Leafy Vegetables

Vacuum cooling can also be used for broccoli and many leafy vegetables where rapid removal of field heat is required.

Applications can include baby leaf, spinach, rocket, watercress, leafy salads, Asian greens and herbs.

Vacuum Cooling Cut Flowers

Vacuum cooling technology can also be used for suitable cut flowers and horticultural products, particularly where rapid temperature management is required before extended storage, distribution or export.

Vacuum Cooler Price – What Determines the Cost?

The price of a vacuum cooler depends on much more than chamber size.

Important factors include:

• Pallet capacity

• Product weight

• Starting and required final temperature

• Required cooling time

• Vacuum pump configuration

• Refrigeration capacity

• Door and conveyor configuration

• Controls and automation

• Electrical specifications

• Refrigerant and condenser selection

• Shipping and installation requirements

A compact 2 pallet vacuum cooler and a large 20 pallet vacuum cooler are fundamentally different industrial systems.

For commercial operators, it can therefore be useful to consider cooling cost per pallet or tonne of product alongside the initial equipment price.

View our vacuum coolers for sale or contact Cold Change Group for a system selected around your production requirements.

Choosing the Correct Vacuum Cooling System

Selecting the correct equipment should begin with the product and required cooling duty, rather than simply choosing a chamber size.

Cold Change Group will consider:

• Product being cooled

• Kilograms per pallet

• Pallets per cycle

• Starting temperature

• Required final temperature

• Target cooling time

• Cycles per hour

• Total hourly throughput

• Packaging and pallet configuration

• Available electrical supply

• Site conditions

This information allows the required vacuum chamber, refrigeration capacity and vacuum pump configuration to be calculated for the application.

Vacuum Cooling vs Cold Room Cooling

Cold rooms and vacuum pre-cooling systems perform different functions.

A cold room is designed primarily to maintain refrigerated product temperature. When warm harvested produce enters a cold room, heat still has to transfer from the centre of the product and pallet into the refrigerated air.

A vacuum pre-cooler is specifically designed to remove field heat rapidly before suitable produce enters refrigerated storage.

For many operations, the two technologies therefore work together rather than replacing one another.

Vacuum Cooling vs Hydro Cooling

Hydro cooling removes heat by bringing suitable produce into contact with chilled water and can be extremely effective for products capable of tolerating direct water contact.

Vacuum cooling can be particularly attractive for suitable leafy and porous products.

Cold Change Group supplies both vacuum cooling equipment and hydro cooling systems, allowing the cooling method to be selected according to the product.

Vacuum Coolers for Sale Worldwide

Cold Change Group supplies industrial vacuum cooling systems worldwide.

We work with customers across the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, South America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

For Australian growers and packhouses, explore our dedicated Vacuum Coolers Australia page for industrial vacuum coolers, vacuum chillers, available capacities and Australia-wide supply.

Systems can be engineered around individual production requirements and supplied for new installations, replacement machines or businesses increasing existing cooling capacity.

Depending on availability, Cold Change Group can also assist customers searching for used vacuum cooling equipment.

View Vacuum Coolers for Sale →

Frequently Asked Questions

How Does a Vacuum Cooler Work?

A vacuum cooler reduces atmospheric pressure inside a sealed chamber. As pressure decreases, water can evaporate at a lower temperature. The energy required for evaporation is taken from the product as heat, causing rapid temperature reduction.

How Fast Is Vacuum Cooling?

Cooling time depends on the product, starting temperature, required final temperature, load weight, packaging, refrigeration capacity and vacuum pump capacity.

Cold Change Group currently lists typical cooling times of approximately 8–25 minutes depending on product weight and temperature across several machine models.

What Products Can Be Vacuum Cooled?

Suitable applications can include lettuce, leafy vegetables, mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, herbs, asparagus, flowers, spinach and watercress.

The suitability of any particular product should be assessed according to its characteristics and required cooling duty.

Does Vacuum Cooling Remove Moisture?

Vacuum cooling relies on evaporation, so some moisture removal is inherent in the process. The amount depends on the required temperature reduction and characteristics of the product.

What Size Vacuum Cooler Do I Need?

Machine size depends on more than pallet quantity. Product weight, starting temperature, final temperature, required cooling time and hourly throughput should all be considered.

Compare:

Single Pallet | 2 Pallet | 4 Pallet | 6 Pallet | 8 Pallet | 10 Pallet | 12 Pallet | 14 Pallet | 16 Pallet | 18 Pallet | 20 Pallet

Where Can I Buy a Vacuum Cooler?

Cold Change Group supplies new industrial vacuum coolers and complete vacuum cooling systems worldwide, with equipment available for small, medium and large fresh produce operations.

Explore the industrial vacuum cooler range.

Request a Vacuum Cooler Quotation

If you are planning a new installation, replacing an existing machine or increasing your current cooling capacity, Cold Change Group can select a system around your production requirements.

To receive a quotation, provide:

• Product

• Pallets per cycle

• Weight per pallet

• Starting product temperature

• Required final temperature

• Required cooling time

• Required hourly throughput

• Country of installation

From compact single-pallet machines to high-capacity 20-pallet installations, our objective is simple:

Faster cooling. Consistent product temperatures. Improved cold-chain performance.

Visit Cold Change Group to discuss your requirements.