Commercial Sausage Drying Case Study: Schulte’s
How Schulte’s overcame seasonal humidity variations and reduced summer sausage drying times by more than 50% using desiccant dehumidification.
PROJECT AT A GLANCE
Client: Schulte’s
Location: Queensland, Australia
Application: Commercial sausage drying
Challenge: Seasonal humidity causing inconsistent drying times
Solution: Desiccant dehumidification added to the existing drying room
Equipment: TFT 420 Air Dry desiccant dehumidifier
Winter drying time: Approx. 2 days per 2 tonnes
Previous summer drying time: Approx. 4-5 days per 2 tonnes
Outcome: Summer drying times reduced by more than 50%
Expansion: Second identical system ordered 18 months later
THE CLIENT
Introducing Schulte’s
Schulte’s is a family owned, mulit award winning gourmet butcher and delicatessen established in 1952, producing smoked and dried smallgoods for retailers and butchers across Australia. Its Mettwurst sausage has been produced, smoked and dried for decades.
Schulte’s gourmet butcher and delicatessen in Queensland, producer of smoked and dried smallgoods.
THE CHALLENGE
Schulte’s needed to maintain consistent production throughout the year, but seasonal humidity had a significant impact on drying performance.
During the drier winter months, approximately two tonnes of sausage could be dried in around two days. In the more humid summer months, the same volume could take four to five days.
The longer and less predictable drying cycle created production constraints, making it harder to maintain consistent supply to national retailers.
“We dry two tonnes of sausages in two days during the drier winter months. During summer, it took four to five days to dry the same amount.”
WHY SCHULTE’S CHOSE HUMISCOPE
Peter Schulte had identified desiccant dehumidification as a potential solution and approached Humiscope for advice on selecting and applying the right system to the existing drying room.
Humiscope assessed the room capacity, existing climate conditions, production requirements and seasonal humidity issues before recommending a system designed to maintain more consistent drying conditions throughout the year.
Peter was impressed by Katherine’s expertise and customer service. Humiscope are experts in dehumidification technology so Katherine was able to easily ascertain what system was required to optimise production within the drying room.
“Katherine was terrific! Nothing was too much trouble, and she couldn’t have been more helpful.”
THE SOLUTION
Humiscope selected a TFT 420 Air Dry desiccant dehumidifier to control moisture within the existing refrigerated drying room. Desiccant technology was well suited to the application because it could maintain low and consistent humidity while operating alongside the existing refrigeration system.
Schulte’s elected to install the unit in-house, with Humiscope arranging delivery and providing technical support. Following installation, Humiscope conducted an on-site visit to confirm the system was operating correctly and achieving the required conditions.
TFT 420 Air Dry desiccant dehumidifier selected for the Schulte’s sausage drying room.
THE OUTCOME
Once the dehumidifier was installed and the room humidity optimised, seasonal variation was significantly reduced and drying times became more consistent throughout the year.
During the humid summer months, Schulte’s reduced drying time by more than 50%, bringing summer production much closer to its winter performance.
The improved consistency enabled Schulte’s to increase throughput and better meet growing demand without relying on favourable seasonal weather.
>50% SHORTER SUMMER DRYING TIME
2 tonnes in around 2 days
compared with 4–5 days previously in summer
THE RESULT LED TO EXPANSION
Eighteen months after the original installation, Schulte’s was sufficiently satisfied with the performance of the system to order a second identical dehumidifier as part of its drying room expansion.
“We’re very happy with the outcome. Essentially we created our own climate.
We are now working on getting an additional dehumidifier as our business and demand for our product has grown.”
Need to reduce drying times or remove seasonal humidity from your production process? Talk to Humiscope about a controlled commercial drying solution.