Vacuum Cooling for Cut Flowers | Vacuum Coolers for Flower Growers
For commercial flower growers, packhouses and exporters, maintaining quality after harvest starts with rapid temperature reduction.
Freshly cut flowers remain biologically active after harvesting. Respiration continues, moisture can be lost and deterioration begins. The longer freshly harvested flowers remain warm, the greater the challenge of maintaining their quality throughout storage, transportation and distribution.
This is why vacuum cooling for cut flowers can provide an effective post-harvest cooling solution for commercial flower growers.
Cold Change Group is a specialist vacuum cooler manufacturer supplying industrial vacuum cooling systems to growers, packhouses, exporters and fresh-produce businesses internationally.
Our vacuum cooling equipment ranges from compact single pallet vacuum coolers through to large 20 pallet industrial vacuum cooling systems, allowing equipment to be selected around the actual production requirements of each operation.
What Is Vacuum Cooling for Cut Flowers?
Vacuum cooling is a rapid pre-cooling process that removes heat through controlled evaporation under reduced atmospheric pressure.
Freshly harvested flowers are loaded into a sealed vacuum chamber. Powerful vacuum pumps then progressively reduce the pressure inside the chamber.
As pressure falls, the boiling point of water also falls.
This allows a small quantity of moisture to evaporate at a low temperature. The energy required for evaporation is taken from the product itself, rapidly removing heat.
This is fundamentally different from conventional cold-room cooling.
Rather than relying entirely on cold air gradually transferring heat away from the outside of the product, a vacuum cooler for cut flowers can rapidly remove heat throughout suitable loads as chamber pressure is reduced.
You can learn more about the technology and available machine configurations through the complete Cold Change vacuum cooling range.
Why Do Cut Flowers Need Rapid Pre-Cooling?
Temperature management is one of the most important parts of the post-harvest flower cold chain.
Flowers harvested from a greenhouse or field can retain significant field heat.
Simply placing warm flowers inside refrigerated storage does not mean that the flowers themselves immediately reach the required temperature.
Heat still needs to transfer from the product into the surrounding refrigerated air.
Packaging, bunch density, airflow, pallet configuration and starting temperature can all influence this process.
The objective of rapid pre-cooling of cut flowers is therefore to remove field heat as quickly as practical and establish the cold chain soon after harvest.
Rapid flower cooling can help provide:
Fast removal of field heat
Faster achievement of required storage temperatures
Reduced exposure to elevated post-harvest temperatures
More consistent temperature management
Improved cold-chain control
Faster preparation for refrigerated storage
Faster preparation for refrigerated transportation
Better protection of product quality
Cold Change specialises in pre-cooling equipment for commercial growers and food-processing businesses.
Vacuum Cooling vs Conventional Cold Room Cooling
Cold rooms remain an essential part of the flower cold chain.
However, there is an important difference between pre-cooling and cold storage.
Cold storage is primarily designed to maintain product at a low temperature.
Pre-cooling is designed to remove heat rapidly from the product before storage.
With conventional cold-room cooling, heat must transfer from the flowers into the surrounding refrigerated air.
With vacuum cooling, heat is removed through controlled evaporation under reduced pressure.
A flower cold chain could therefore incorporate:
Harvest → Vacuum Pre-Cooling → Packing → Cold Storage → Refrigerated Transport → Distribution → Retail
Vacuum cooling and refrigerated storage can consequently complement one another rather than compete.
Can Vacuum Cooling Help Maintain Cut Flower Quality?
Rapidly removing field heat and establishing the cold chain soon after harvest can help create better conditions for maintaining flower quality.
However, different flower varieties have different structures, moisture characteristics and post-harvest requirements.
A correctly designed flower vacuum cooling system therefore needs to consider:
Flower variety
Harvest temperature
Required final temperature
Moisture characteristics
Packaging
Bunch density
Pallet weight
Pallet configuration
Required cooling time
Required hourly throughput
This is why selecting an experienced vacuum cooler manufacturer is important when developing a system specifically for flowers.
Which Cut Flowers Can Be Vacuum Cooled?
Potential vacuum cooling applications can include:
Roses
Chrysanthemums
Carnations
Lilies
Gerberas
Tulips
Daffodils
Cut foliage
Mixed bouquets
Other suitable commercial cut flowers
Individual varieties should be assessed to establish the optimum vacuum cooling programme.
Vacuum Cooling Roses
Roses are among the world’s most important commercially produced cut flowers.
Large quantities of roses are transported internationally between growing regions, distribution centres, wholesalers and retailers.
Rapid removal of field heat before cold storage and transportation can therefore be particularly important.
A commercial vacuum cooler for roses can potentially provide growers with a rapid method of pre-cooling large quantities following harvest.
The cooling programme needs to take account of the flowers, leaves, stems, bunch configuration and packaging.
Vacuum Cooling Lilies
Lilies are another potential application for vacuum cooling.
Because vacuum cooling works through controlled evaporation, correct moisture management is important.
Vacuum pressure, cooling rate, starting temperature and final temperature should therefore be considered when developing a suitable programme for cut lilies.
Vacuum Cooling Chrysanthemums and Carnations
Chrysanthemums and carnations are produced commercially in substantial volumes around the world.
For growers supplying supermarkets, wholesalers and international customers, the period between harvesting and establishing the cold chain can be particularly important.
A properly engineered commercial flower vacuum cooler provides another method of rapidly removing post-harvest heat before refrigerated storage and transportation.
Industrial Vacuum Coolers for Flower Growers
One of the advantages of industrial vacuum cooling is scalability.
A smaller flower grower may only need to process one or two pallets per cycle.
A major flower farm, central packhouse or export facility may need to process substantially more.
Cold Change therefore supplies industrial vacuum coolers ranging from single pallet through to 20 pallet systems.
Single Pallet Vacuum Cooler for Cut Flowers
A single pallet vacuum cooler provides a compact entry point into commercial vacuum cooling.
Single pallet systems can be suitable for specialist flower growers, smaller production facilities, research operations and businesses processing relatively small batches.
2 Pallet Vacuum Cooler for Cut Flowers
A 2 pallet vacuum cooler provides increased capacity while retaining a relatively compact footprint.
Two-pallet machines can suit smaller and medium-sized flower farms requiring repeated cooling cycles throughout the working day.
4 Pallet Vacuum Cooler for Cut Flowers
A 4 pallet vacuum cooler provides increased batch capacity for medium-sized flower growers and packhouses.
Cold Change’s four-pallet machine is specifically designed for applications including vegetables, flowers, turf and bakery products.
6 Pallet Vacuum Cooler for Cut Flowers
A 6 pallet vacuum cooler provides additional production capacity for commercial flower growers processing larger harvesting volumes.
The machine can be configured around individual pallet dimensions, weight, starting temperature and required cooling capacity.
8 Pallet Vacuum Cooler for Cut Flowers
An 8 pallet vacuum cooler can provide substantial batch capacity for established flower farms, packhouses and exporters.
Eight-pallet systems can provide a useful intermediate capacity between smaller machines and large high-throughput installations.
10 Pallet Vacuum Cooler for Cut Flowers
A 10 pallet vacuum cooler provides significant batch capacity for high-volume commercial operations.
For larger flower growers, rapid multi-pallet cooling can help prevent post-harvest pre-cooling from becoming a production bottleneck during peak harvesting periods.
12 Pallet Vacuum Cooler for Cut Flowers
A 12 pallet vacuum cooler provides high batch capacity for major flower farms, central packhouses and export operations.
Systems can be designed around the production requirements and loading configuration of the facility.
14 Pallet Vacuum Cooler for Cut Flowers
A 14 pallet vacuum cooler provides additional capacity for high-volume flower growers requiring substantial hourly throughput.
16 Pallet Vacuum Cooler for Cut Flowers
A 16 pallet vacuum cooler moves into very high-throughput industrial vacuum cooling.
This size can be particularly relevant where substantial volumes need to be processed during concentrated harvesting periods.
18 Pallet Vacuum Cooler for Cut Flowers
An 18 pallet vacuum cooler provides very high batch capacity for major flower growers, processors and export facilities.
20 Pallet Vacuum Cooler for Cut Flowers
A 20 pallet vacuum cooler provides one of the largest configurations within the Cold Change range.
This type of system can be considered by major flower-growing operations, centralised packhouses and exporters requiring very high throughput.
Cold Change also offers a 20 pallet Eco Model vacuum cooler for customers considering alternative high-capacity configurations.
What Size Vacuum Cooler Does a Flower Grower Need?
There is no single correct size.
The required machine depends upon:
Pallet weight × pallets per cycle × cycles per hour × operating hours per day.
Cold Change can then consider additional factors including:
Starting flower temperature
Required final temperature
Flower variety
Pallet dimensions
Packaging
Required cooling time
Loading arrangement
Available electrical supply
Refrigeration capacity
Vacuum pump capacity
Future production growth
This allows the vacuum cooler to be designed around actual production rather than simply selecting a chamber based on pallet capacity.
Automatic Vacuum Cooling Systems
Large flower packhouses can also incorporate automation into the cooling process.
Cold Change vacuum cooling systems can be engineered with features including:
Automatic doors
Automatic conveyors
PLC control
Touchscreen operation
Programmable cooling recipes
Product temperature monitoring
Remote access
Cycle-time monitoring
Energy monitoring
Service alerts
Breakdown alerts
This allows an industrial vacuum cooling system to become part of a larger automated flower packing and cold-chain facility.
Vacuum Coolers for Flower Exporters
International flower exporters face particularly demanding cold chains.
Flowers can travel thousands of miles between the grower and the eventual customer.
The objective is therefore not simply to produce a high-quality flower.
That quality needs to be protected throughout packing, storage, transportation, distribution and retail.
Rapidly establishing the required product temperature following harvest can provide an important first stage.
Large industrial flower vacuum coolers can process complete pallet loads in repeated cycles, making the technology particularly interesting for high-volume flower exporters.
Vacuum Cooling Isn’t Only for Flowers
The same underlying vacuum cooling technology is widely used for suitable fresh produce.
Cold Change provides vacuum cooling systems for products including:
Flowers
Mushrooms
Lettuce
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Spinach
Herbs
Celery
Asparagus
Watercress
Cabbage
Leeks
Green onions
Turf
Selected bakery products
Read our complete guide to vacuum cooling mushrooms to see how the technology is used within commercial mushroom production.
You can also read our guide to vacuum cooling lettuce to understand why rapid field-heat removal is important for leafy produce.
Growers considering alternative post-harvest technologies can also explore the Cold Change hydro cooling range and blast chilling systems.
Vacuum Cooler Manufacturer for the Flower Industry
Cold Change Group specialises in industrial vacuum cooling and post-harvest cooling equipment.
Our vacuum cooler range includes machines from single pallet to 20 pallet capacity.
Systems can be configured around individual requirements including:
Chamber dimensions
Pallet dimensions
Production throughput
Refrigeration capacity
Vacuum pump configuration
Automatic loading
Automatic unloading
Conveyor systems
Refrigerant selection
PLC controls
Touchscreen operation
Remote monitoring
This allows Cold Change to provide a commercial vacuum cooling system around the requirements of the flower grower rather than expecting the grower to adapt their operation around a standard machine.
Looking for a Vacuum Cooler for Sale?
Growers searching for a vacuum cooler for sale should consider more than the initial machine capacity.
The first step is establishing:
What are we cooling?
How much product is on each pallet?
How many pallets need to be cooled per hour?
What is the starting temperature?
What is the required final temperature?
How quickly must that temperature be achieved?
From this information, Cold Change can determine an appropriate chamber configuration, vacuum pump capacity and refrigeration requirement.
Vacuum Cooling Equipment From 1 to 20 Pallets
Cold Change supplies a comprehensive range of commercial vacuum cooling equipment:
Single Pallet Vacuum Cooler
2 Pallet Vacuum Cooler
4 Pallet Vacuum Cooler
6 Pallet Vacuum Cooler
8 Pallet Vacuum Cooler
10 Pallet Vacuum Cooler
12 Pallet Vacuum Cooler
14 Pallet Vacuum Cooler
16 Pallet Vacuum Cooler
18 Pallet Vacuum Cooler
20 Pallet Vacuum Cooler
View the complete Cold Change vacuum cooler range to compare available capacities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vacuum Cooling Cut Flowers
Can cut flowers be vacuum cooled?
Suitable cut flowers can potentially be rapidly pre-cooled using vacuum cooling. The correct process depends upon flower variety, moisture characteristics, starting temperature, target temperature and packaging.
What is a vacuum cooler for cut flowers?
A vacuum cooler is a sealed chamber in which atmospheric pressure is reduced. This lowers the boiling point of water and allows controlled evaporation to remove heat rapidly from suitable flowers.
What size flower vacuum cooler do I need?
The correct size depends upon pallet weight, pallets per hour, starting temperature, target temperature, required cycle time and daily operating hours.
Cold Change supplies systems ranging from single pallet through to 20 pallet vacuum coolers.
Can Cold Change manufacture a custom flower vacuum cooler?
Yes. Vacuum cooling systems can be configured around individual pallet dimensions, production capacity, loading arrangements, refrigeration requirements and site conditions.
Is vacuum cooling only suitable for flowers?
No. Vacuum cooling is also used for suitable products including mushrooms, lettuce, leafy vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower, herbs, celery, asparagus and other fresh produce.
Where can I buy an industrial vacuum cooler?
Cold Change supplies vacuum coolers for sale for growers, packhouses, food processors and exporters internationally.
Talk to Cold Change About Vacuum Cooling for Cut Flowers
If you grow, pack or export cut flowers and would like to investigate vacuum cooling for cut flowers, contact Cold Change Group.
We can review your:
Flower variety → pallet dimensions → pallet weight → starting temperature → target temperature → pallets per hour → daily operating hours.
From smaller single pallet and 2 pallet vacuum coolers through to large 20 pallet industrial vacuum cooling systems, Cold Change can develop equipment around the production requirements of your operation.
Explore our complete vacuum cooling range or contact Cold Change to discuss your application.
