Heat and Control expands thermal range with Tek-Dry acquisition
Earlier this year, Heat and Control announced the acquisition of UK-based company Tek-Dry Systems Ltd., a leading provider of thermal food processing equipment.
Tony Caridis, President of Heat and Control, said the acquisition represents a significant milestone in the company’s growth strategy, fostering innovation and creating new opportunities for both companies, by strengthening its ability to serve customers with innovative dryers, toasters, coolers, and thermal processing systems.
“Tek-Dry Systems manufactures a broad range of thermal processing solutions that complement our existing range of products, allowing us to deliver even more innovative solutions to our global customers,” he said.
Established in 1990, Tek-Dry Systems has built a global reputation as a specialist supplier of high-quality, bespoke thermal process equipment. With over 30 years’ experience, the company’s expert engineering and design teams act as process partners and consultants, bringing tailored, high-performance solutions to both food and industrial sectors.
Tek-Dry’s equipment is designed primarily for drying, cooling, toasting, and roasting applications, serving both standard and niche requirements across both the food and non-food processing industries, providing accurate moisture control, texture management, and overall product uniformity.
After collaborating with Tek-Dry on several projects, Heat and Control found Tek-Dry’s leadership, customer service, and quality standards aligned perfectly with its own, making the acquisition a natural fit.
“The addition of these high-quality solutions will allow our global sales network to confidently serve existing customers while also creating opportunities to expand into new markets,” he said.
Primary thermal processing
Tek-Dry Systems equipment plays a central role in the thermal processing of many products, through:
- Single and multipass dryers that remove moisture from products like French fries, coated cereals and pet food.
- Single and multipass dryers/roasters that remove moisture, create colour, and add texture to products such as nuts and snacks.
- Fluid bed toasters for toasting and puffing cereal and snack products.
Post-processing
Once thermal processing is complete, cooling systems (often integrated with dryers) bring product temperatures down to suitable levels for post-processing and packaging.
Packaging readiness
Tek-Dry equipment ensures the product reaches packaging with consistent moisture, texture, and temperature, which is important for maximising shelf life.
The range
Tek-Dry offers a broad range of thermal processing equipment tailored to the various stages of food production outlined above.
Snack dryers
Tek-Dry snack dryers support the production of a wide range of high-quality snacks, including croutons, expanded snacks, and bread-based products.
Features include high evaporation rates, precise moisture control, and a single pass conveyor design that minimises agitation and fines generation. A variety of heat sources can be used, including direct or indirect gas and electric.
Key benefits include a small footprint and an easy access design that simplifies cleaning.
Nut dryer/roasters
Tek-Dry dryer/roasters process a range of nut types and utilise a single pass conveyor design that minimises fines generation and mechanical agitation, one of the principal causes of ‘splits’.
Features include precise moisture control and uniform product colour and texture. A variety of heat sources can be used, including direct or indirect gas and electric.
Key benefits include a small footprint and an easy access design that simplifies cleaning.
Cereal dryers, toasters and coolers
Tek-Dry cereal systems are used by leading food brands to produce high-quality cereals — including rice and corn, as well as extruded and coated products.
Innovative single-pass suction dryers minimise fines and deliver high moisture removal per square metre of dryer within a reduced footprint.
Cereal toasters can run on gas or electric heating and include integrated dust separation to minimise internal dust build-up. More energy efficient air delivery systems enable lower operating temperatures, while still delivering cereals with consistent colour, texture, and moisture.
French fry dryers
Requested by the world’s leading French fry processors, high-performance dryers feature Tek-Dry’s single pass design and reduced footprint. Excellent internal access and pre-installed rinse-in-place systems make them both easy to clean and low maintenance.
While many installations use steam as the primary heat source, our current dryers can be supplied to utilise hot water heated using recovered energy from the fryer exhaust. This significantly reduces dryer operating costs.
Preform dryers and coolers
Tek-Dry’s preform dryers and coolers provide efficient surface water removal and cooling before downstream processing. All systems feature their signature hygienic, single-pass design which ensures easy cleaning, minimal maintenance, and reliable performance.
Key benefits include high moisture removal per square metre of dryer, a uniform moisture profile and lower operating temperatures.
Sustainability and energy recovery
Tek-Dry Systems can offer exhaust energy recovery solutions for most of its drying, toasting and roasting applications. These solutions can assist the end user in reducing their carbon footprint and improve production line efficiency.
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