Dehumidification in Food Processing
Proper dehumidification is absolutely vital for food production facilities. Uncontrolled humidity leads to serious quality, safety and financial issues. At Bry-Air, our reliable desiccant dehumidification solutions are designed specifically for the unique needs of the food processing industry.
Custom Engineered for Your Facility
We offer permanent and rental industrial dehumidifiers configurable to your spatial needs and production volumes. Our experienced team handles requirements analysis, system design, off-site fabrication and professional turnkey installation.
Core Capabilities:
- Desiccant rotor capacities from 100 to 40,000 CFM
- Dew point temperatures as low as -40°F
- Hot gas reactivation for efficient, reliable performance
- Integration with process HVAC and BMS systems
- Durable stainless steel construction
- Food-grade materials compliant to FDA, USDA and EC1935/2004
Unmatched Bry-Air Benefits
- 60 years of food industry expertise
- Over 400 sales/service locations worldwide
- Equipment field-proven in 100+ countries
- Custom engineering for specialized conditions
- Energy recapture modules for lower consumption
- High-efficiency Scroll and COPE compressors
- Data logging and continuous monitoring options
- Rapid 2-3 week fabrication/installation standard
Why Controlling Humidity Levels Is Essential
High humidity and excess moisture provide the perfect environment for dangerous microbial growth. Contamination from mold, bacteria and other pathogens can occur in ingredients, works-in-progress or finished goods. Some specific risks include:
- Accelerated metabolic activity causing premature spoilage
- Texture and consistency damage
- Clumping of dry materials
- Conveyance and packaging difficulties
- Illness outbreaks and regulatory violations
Pathogen contamination can lead to recalls costing millions, permanently damaged reputations, lawsuits, and even business closure.
Additionally, excess humidity negatively impacts production efficiency by disrupting processes, impairing equipment function and requiring extra QA checks. It also drives up energy consumption significantly.
In regulated food facilities, out-of-spec humidity undermines mandated HACCP, FSMA, GFSI and associated quality programs. Failing to control moisture opens brands up to major compliance liabilities.
Ideal Humidity Levels by Product Type
Humidity needs vary based on factors like a food’s water activity and susceptibility to microbial growth. Below are target RH ranges for major categories:
- Bakery Goods: 35-50% RH prevents starch crystallization.
- Confectionery Items: 45-55% RH for hard candies/boiled sweets helps achieve proper crystallinity.
- Snack Foods: For crispy and crunchy texture, need 25-35% for crackers/biscuits; 15-25% for baked snacks.
- Dairy Products: 40-45% allows efficient powder reconstitution and packaging.
- Beverages: 45-55% supports aseptic filling/sealing; 55-65% aids carbonation.
- Meat Processing: 55-60% maintains workability while controlling surface dryness.
Get a Complimentary Facility Assessment
Contact Bry-Air to schedule a comprehensive dehumidification survey and analysis at your production plant. Our licensed engineers will measure environmental conditions, map moisture problem areas, audit existing systems and recommend ideal solutions tailored to your operational needs. Next steps include sizing, budgeting, design finalization and installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature ranges do your systems support?
Our desiccant dehumidifiers reliably operate in temperatures from 33°F to 140°F, making them suitable for nearly any food production environment.
How long does equipment installation take?
For permanent dehumidifiers, we complete on-site installation in approximately 1-2 weeks depending on a facility’s layout and structural factors.
Which food sectors do you serve most?
While we have cross-industry experience, the majority of our food manufacturing clients are in bakery goods, snacks, confectionery and dairy products.
What compliance standards do you adhere to?
Our equipment and production processes meet stringent safety and quality benchmarks like BIS, CE, ETL and ISO. We use only food-grade materials per FDA, USDA and European Commission regulations.
