Infrared heating for chocolate moulds

Carbon infra-red mould heating systems from Heraeus Noblelight are helping a specialist chocolatier to maintain the quality of its chocolate products, as well providing significant savings in space and energy costs.

The production of moulded chocolate involves depositing liquid chocolate into suitable polycarbonate moulds. It is important that the moulds are pre-heated to a specific temperature before the chocolate is deposited.

PID-controlled carbon infra-red heating systems have been installed on all three moulding machines.

Two of the machines run at 2.5m/min (12 moulds/ minute) while the third runs at 3.5m/min (also 12 moulds/ min). All three machines have a pyrometer which regulates the energy of the infra-red emitters to ensure all mould temperatures are about 30°C when filling takes place.

The result has been better temperature control and energy savings of about 60%.