Rosenqvists Star Wheel Fryer for snack pellets: a classic, continuously updated

Food processing equipment manufacturer Rosenqvists is constantly improving their unique finish-frying solution for pellet snacks, the Star Wheel Fryer.

The patented Star Wheel Fryer (SWF) provides gentle handling and uniform frying of many different pellet snacks from rings to 3-dimensional products.

With the lowest total oil volume of any pellet fryer on the market, the patented Star Wheel fryer is available in three sizes with outputs from 100-750 kg/h.

Rosenqvists has 25 years of experience with the Star Wheel Fryer design and is continuously improving and adjusting the functionality of the fryer. The focus is to improve the frying performance and to simplify the operation´of the process line.

Some of the major improvements with today’s Star Wheel Fryer, compared with the design a decade ago:

• Automatic Oil Level Control
  
  We have introduced automatic oil level control arrangement. By measuring the oil level automatically, you can always make sure you use the adequate amount of oil.
  
  This new set-up will help you save oil consumption and reach the best possible oil turnover rate.


• Improved Pellet Outlet
  
  New product outlet with screening. The newly fried pellets leaving the fryer carry some extra oil with them. We have a new outlet design with a screen allowing most of the oil to separate from the pellets before the drip-off belt. As before, the drip-off belt will take care of the rest of the extra oil.


• Improved Safety features
  
  
  • Safety sensor to avoid opening the fryer when infeed conveyor is in place
  • Temperature- and oil level safety sensors

“Other companies have belt fryers that use a stainless steel belt inside the fryer pan, whereas we have a star wheel inside the fryer that rotates.”

“Since belt fryers have an opening in the belt, very small pallets can stick or get stuck. But the Start Wheel Fryer has a solid V-form plate paddle inside, which means the pellets cannot stick to the paddle itself.”

“Moreover, the Star Wheel Fryer has now been fitted with an improved pellet outlet, that has a new design with a screen which allows most of the oil to separate from the pellets before the drip-off belt.”

“When the products are sliding out, they can drain the oil more efficiently before they come on the drip-off belt. This oil is then collected into a container outside the fryer.”

“We have a level switch and immediately this oil is pumped back into fryer. So, we don’t waste that oil, we collect it and pump it back as quickly as possible.”

Star wheel snack pellet fryer

(Click to enlarge)

Rosenqvists Star Wheel Fryer with oil-drip-off belt

The SWF system is designed to give you maximum flexibility in the production of top-quality snacks. From rings to more complex 3-dimensional snacks, the SWF easily and efficiently handles a variety of pellet products.

The infeed system consists of an incline elevator to handle the most fragile of products and a vibratory conveyor with built in screen to remove small pieces. After the fryer the fried product passes an oil-drip-off belt prior to the seasoning process.

The installation is simple with pre-assembly of all pipes between oil supply tank, level control and fryer.

The SWF system is designed with easy operation and cleaning. The unit is easy to disassemble and requires no tools for lifting heavy parts. The exhaust stack lifts off allowing easy access to frying wheel which is lifted via motor-driven lifting system.

Lowest Oil Volume

Star Wheel Fryer close-up

The SWF system has the lowest total oil volume of any pellet fryer on the market with the smallest model containing only 87 liters for a capacity up to 150kg/hr.

The low oil volume equates to exceptional turnover rates at just 2-3 hours optimizing product quality and extending shelf-life.

And, for added convenience, the oil level of the fryer is automatically controlled