Energy-efficient plate freezing: No longer just for the big players

Freezing is a critical step for processors of fresh foods, including meat, dairy, produce, and ready meals. However, it’s also a significant contributor to energy consumption, operating costs, and greenhouse gas emissions — challenges Australian processors are increasingly looking to address.

Plate freezing has long been recognised for its unparalleled speed and energy efficiency. It’s become essential for Australian meat processors, helping them achieve the necessary refrigeration index required for export markets.

MHM Automation, with its chilling and freezing centre of excellence based in Brisbane, is a global leader in horizontal plate freezing, having introduced this technology to the Australian meat industry in the 1990s through its predecessor Milmeq.

Today, MHM Automation supplies the largest horizontal plate freezers in the world, with capacities ranging from 600 to over 3,000 cartons (60 lb each) per 24-hour freezing cycle. However, this technology has traditionally been out of reach for smaller processors due to scale and cost.

This is about to change. In June 2025, MHM Automation announced a new partnership with Danish-based freezing technology leader DSI Dantech. This partnership allows MHM Automation to offer smaller-scale DSI Dantech horizontal plate freezers, making this premium freezing technology accessible to processors of all sizes across the Oceania region.

Tony Johnson, General Manager of Sales and Marketing at MHM Automation, says the partnership opens up significant opportunities for smaller operators.

“While our large-scale plate freezers dominate major meat processors in Australia, smaller processors can now benefit from DSI Dantech’s more compact horizontal plate freezers," Johnson says.

Johnson emphasises that despite their compact size, DSI Dantech’s plate freezers match the exceptional quality and performance processors expect from MHM Automation.

“Visiting their manufacturing site in Denmark reinforced our confidence in the meticulous quality and precision engineering of their equipment — qualities we know our customers value,” he explains.

DSI Dantech plate freezers are versatile, widely used internationally by processors in seafood, dairy, and ready meals, in addition to meat processing. They can handle both bulk-packed cartons and consumer-ready packaging — a market yet to fully adopt plate freezing technology in Australia.

Johnson explains that reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions is a significant motivation for processors considering plate freezing.

“Plate freezing can offer electrical energy savings of up to 30% over traditional blast freezing methods,” he says.

Another key driver for adopting plate freezing is the motivation to reduce manual labour and enhance workplace safety.

“Our plate freezers automate the loading and unloading process, making freezing operations completely hands-free. Removing the manual handling of heavy product cartons significantly reduces workplace risks,” Johnson adds.

Johnson encourages processors interested in energy-efficient, fast, and automated freezing systems with strong ROI to reach out.

“We’re excited to bring this proven, premium Danish technology within reach of every processor across the region,” he says.

For more information, visit https://mhmautomation.com/product/dsi-dantech-horizontal-plate-freezers.

Image caption: DSI Dantech’s horizontal plate freezers put the benefits of plate freezing within reach of medium-sized meat, seafood and other food processors.