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Every time I take a look at the different steps in egg products processing I find myself thinking of them as all been critical. Maybe not all steps in the process are critical, but each one has its own nuances that can have repercussions down the road. Whether is loading eggs onto the conveyor, egg washing conditions or, the operation of the egg breaker, they all have certain aspects that can have a negative impact on product quality.

Amounting to at least 15% of every breaking plant’s production, I sometimes feel that the equipment to process eggshells and adhering liquid do not get the attention they deserve. There have been great advancements in technology for liquid processing, filtration, pasteurization, controls, etc. but not for eggshell handling.

Through my career in egg products processing it seems that at times filtration does not get the attention it deserves. Egg products are usually filtered at different steps in the process: after the egg breaking; when tankers of product are received at the processing facility; before egg whites are concentrated on Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems; and before spray drying.

We rarely shy away from challenges that push our capabilities, how else are we to grow and expand our horizons? When we were asked if we could build Aluminum Alloy tanks for shrimp processing, we accepted the challenge after quick but thorough review. As a result, Apotek Solutions just delivered the first of a series of special Aluminum Alloy tanks headed to a state of the art shrimp processing facility.

The path to high quality egg products has finally brought us to a point where we stop talking about eggs and we switch to “egg products” or “liquid eggs”. With the egg contents now out of the protective shell and exposed to the atmosphere it is crucial to protect them from contamination and for potential bacterial growth minimized.

I recently had one of those experiences that we dread as much as we look forward: buying a car. The experience reminded me of the process we go through when buying a piece of new egg processing equipment or a complete plant. When buying a car you’re explained the features of the car and the extras, but you’re not taught how to drive.

A few months ago Apotek Solutions was asked to design, built, install and commission a special CIP system. The CIP system not only had to fit into a tight space, it had fit through small doors and had to be installed and commissioned in a working processing plant over the a weekend.

After what had to be a controversial and tricky segment on the Path to High Quality Egg Products that traveled through an egg washer, we’ve made it to the egg breaker. From this point in the process the path becomes a lot more challenging and full of obstacles.

On Part 2 of the series I briefly discussed egg washing but left it out as it is a topic the deserves more than a brief mention. Certainly the topic of egg washing is a sensitive one as not everyone agrees on whether eggs should be washed before egg breaking or not.