With sizes of up to 22 feet in diameter and up to 60 feet high, the facility's spray dryers can produce a total upwards of 9,000 lbs of milk powder per hour.
During the manufacturing process fluid milk is evaporated to 50% solids and then injected under high pressure into the 400degree Fahrenheit environment inside the spray dryer where it flash dries. The dry milk then drops to the bottom of the unit and is discharged into bulk containers. Vibrators help remove any powder which may adhere to the sides of the cone. However, over time, the milk builds up on the inside of the dryer and must be removed during routine cleaning. In order to maintain high production efficiencies and product quality, close attention is paid to maintaining the cleanliness of the spray dryer interiors.