Milk Reception Equipment in Dairy Plants: A Complete Guide for Hygienic and Efficient Handling

Introduction: The Role of Milk Reception Systems

The milk reception dock (MRD) is the first critical control point in dairy processing. Here, milk arrives either in cans or tankers, and undergoes:

Unloading
Weighing
Quality testing
Cooling
Storage

A well-designed milk reception area ensures faster intake, reduced contamination, and efficient cleaning and can turnaround—critical for large-scale dairy plants.

Key Equipment Used in Milk Reception

1. Conveyor Systems

Gravity or power-driven rollers
Streamline can movement from vehicle to tipping point
Allow visual inspection, grading, and sampling
Designed for hygiene, easy cleaning, and lubrication

2. Can Tipping Device

Floor-mounted stainless steel structure
Allows manual tilting for emptying cans into the weigh bowl

3. Weighing Systems

Weigh bowl or tank attached to a circular dial or electronic scale
Optional automatic weight recorders
Used for volume-based procurement and supplier payments

4. Can Rinsing & Steaming Block

Pedal-operated sterilizing unit
Rinses and steams cans before washing

5. Sanitary Milk Pump

Stainless steel centrifugal pump
Transfers milk from weigh tank to chiller

6. Dump Tank

Acts as a buffer between weighing and chilling units
Designed with flat sloped bottom for complete drainage

7. Drip Saver

Rack-based tubular structure
Allows draining excess milk/water from washed cans

8. Can Washer & Washing Trough

Rotary can washers (3–5 cans/min) or straight-through washers (12 cans/min)
Manual scrubbing troughs with brushes for stubborn dirt

9. Draining Rack

Roller or rotary rack for drying cans and lids post-wash

10. Sanitizing Assembly

Includes:
Steaming block
Pump spray system
Sanitizer solution tank
Ensures tank disinfection before use

11. Plunger

Manual stainless steel stirrer for grading and sampling milk

12. Milk Testing Kit

Contains samplers, bottles, test tubes for platform-level quality checks (COB, MBR, pH, etc.)

13. Jacketed Vat / Cooling Tank

Double-walled tank with circulating coolant
Used for batch-wise milk chilling at smaller chilling centers

14. Surface Cooler

Multi-tube design; milk flows over coils, coolant inside
For intermediate-stage cooling before final chilling

15. Plate Chiller

Most commonly used in large-scale dairy plants
Alternate plates for milk and chilled water/brine
Offers continuous, high-efficiency cooling

16. Can Cover Opener

Mechanically loosens can lids before dumping
Placed along conveyor line

17. Ventilation Duct

Removes vapors and airborne contaminants from the reception area

18. Compressed Air System

Connects to tankers for pressure-driven milk unloading

19. Sanitary Piping

Stainless steel piping from tanker unloading point to milk storage silos

20. Weigh Bridge

Used for measuring tanker weight before and after unloading
Helps track bulk milk intake

21. Pre-washer

Installed in conveyor line to wash exterior of milk cans

22. Internal Tubular Cooler

Concentric stainless steel tubes
Milk and coolant flow in counter-current pattern for effective cooling

23. Milk Silo

Large-capacity vertical tanks (50,000–100,000 L)
Equipped with:
6% bottom slope for full drainage
Sensors for temperature and level control
Control panel for monitoring

Factors Affecting Equipment Design

Health regulations (FSSAI, ISO): Approval needed before construction
Volume of milk: Affects dock size, conveyor capacity
Floor space & drainage: Designed for can handling and cleaning
Vehicle yard & elevation: Aligned with truck height for easy unloading
Milk delivery mode: Can or tanker-based layout affects equipment choice

Conclusion: Efficient Milk Reception Begins with the Right Equipment

A well-designed milk reception dock:

Enhances speed, hygiene, and traceability
Reduces cross-contamination and milk wastage
Supports regulatory compliance with minimal manual handling

Engage a professional food processing consultant or engineering team to:

Plan plant layout for high intake volumes
Specify the right equipment based on source and process flow
Ensure integration with chilling, storage, and QA systems
Maintain documentation for audits and quality control

PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering www.pmg.engineering info@pmg.engineering Equipments Used In Milk Reception Build World-Class Food Factories PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering www.pmg.engineering info@pmg.engineering Contents 1 2 3 x Introduction Factors affecting Equipments Designing & Installation Equipments About PMG Engineering Build World-Class Food Factories 2 PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering www.pmg.engineering info@pmg.engineering 1. Introduction • Milk received either in cans or in tankers Raw Milk Reception Dock. • Dairy reception dock is specially designed and equipped, - to facilitate rapid reception of milk and, cleaning and sterilization of used containers. • Equipment at milk reception designed so intake operations are expedited, that particularly where large volumes of milk are received. • Layout at the reception dock and equipment the placement maximum efficiency at the minimum cost. for obtaining is done Build World-Class Food Factories PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering www.pmg.engineering info@pmg.engineering 2. Factors affecting Equipment Designing • Health regulations: Prior to the start of construction, the project needs formal written approval and interaction with the local health authorities during the preliminary design phase. • Volume of milk: The reception platform must be spacious enough to accommodate the required number of milk can lorries and tankers, considering seasonal variations in milk availability. • Floor space: Proper milk inspection and handling of rejected cans should be done with space and equipment, avoid adequate proximity or proximity to walls or ceilings. Emptied cans and lids should be properly washed and returned to the truck. Build World-Class Food Factories PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering www.pmg.engineering info@pmg.engineering 2. Factors affecting Equipment Designing • Methods of delivery of milk: The layout of platforms and equipment, including conveyors at the reception dock, is crucial for efficient milk delivery. Truckers should discharge cans at the intake point before picking up empties, and the combined capacity of the intake, washer, and discharge conveyors should be sufficient. • • Location of driveways and vehicle yards: Streets, driveways and yards for the vehicles must be located suitably in relation to the receiving dock. Elevation of dock: The level of the truck and receiving platform should be the same. Build World-Class Food Factories PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering www.pmg.engineering info@pmg.engineering 3. Equipments 3.1 Conveyor: handling • Efficient materials requires conveyor systems that provide direct, continuous flow from origin to destination, ensuring simplicity, flexibility, and trouble- free operation. • • • It should have proper elevation at all points, and easy to clean, lubricate and maintain. Sharp curves, sudden changes of elevation switching of various size packages and other tasks can be handled without difficulty It permits inspection, grading, sampling of milk. It conveys milk can from one end of platform to tipping point. It can be power driven gravity roller type. Build World-Class Food Factories PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering www.pmg.engineering info@pmg.engineering 3. Equipments (Cont.) 3.2 Can Tipping Device: • It is floor mounted horizontal aluminum crossbar supported on two legs • Used for manual tilting and unloading of milk to weigh bowl. • The leg shall be made of SS Pipe. 3.3 Weigh Scale/ bowl /tank/ weighing Machine: • it is a stainless-steel bowl attached to circular dial weigh scale. • May be fitted with automatic weigh recorder. Can Tipping Device Weigh Scale/bowl/tank Build World-Class Food Factories PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering www.pmg.engineering info@pmg.engineering 3. Equipments (Cont.) 3.4 Can Rinsing and Steaming Block: • It is Pedal Operated Equipment for rinsing and sterilizing cans. 3.5 Sanitary Milk Pump: Typically, stainless- steel centrifugal pump which pumps milk from dump tank. Build World-Class Food Factories PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering www.pmg.engineering info@pmg.engineering 3. Equipments (Cont.) 3.6 Dump Tank: • A rectangular vessel used as a balance tank for milk between a weigh bowl and a milk chiller in dairy industries. • Sturdy and hygienic, capable of storing large amounts of liquid. • These tanks are used in conjunction with conveying systems or individually for small chilling centers or bulk milk cooling centers. • They have an outlet at the flat bottom with a slop for easy liquid drain and are mounted on adjustable ball feet. Build World-Class Food Factories PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering www.pmg.engineering info@pmg.engineering 3. Equipments (Cont.) 3.7 Drip Saver: Drip Saver is used for the removal of excess water or milk residue in the drained Milk cans. It has tubular with rack arrangement. 3.8 Can washer: The smaller capacity ones are Rotary can washers, whose capacity is 3 to 5 cans/min, while the larger capacity ones are Straight-through can washers, whose capacity is about 12 cans/min. It is used to clean wash and sterilize cans. 3.9 Can Washing Trough: It is a semi-circular manual cleaning basin provided with scrubbing brush, which is used to scrub and clean cans. Drip Saver Can washer Can Washing Trough Build World-Class Food Factories PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering www.pmg.engineering info@pmg.engineering 3. Equipments (Cont.) 3.10 Draining Rack: It is either Roller Roller type conveyor or rotary rack which is used to drain and dry clean milk cans and lids. 3.11 Sanitizing Assembly: it consists of 3 parts: steaming block, pump spray and sanitizing solution tank which is used to sanitize tank. 3.12 Plunger: It is manual stirrer made up of stainless steel or aluminium which stir milk in can or vat for grading and sampling. 3.13 Testing kit: It consists of sampler, sample bottle, test tubes etc. These are used to accomplish platform tests. Build World-Class Food Factories Plunger PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering www.pmg.engineering info@pmg.engineering 3. Equipments (Cont.) 3.14 Jacked Vat / Tank : • For batch cooling especially of small quantities. • It consists of a tank within a tank, with the space between the two being used for circulation of the cooling medium, by either pump or main pressure. • An agitator is provided to move the milk (which is in the upper tank) for rapid cooling. Build World-Class Food Factories PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering www.pmg.engineering info@pmg.engineering 3. Equipments (Cont.) 3.15 Surface Coolers: • A series of small diameter horizontal tubes are welded one above another terminating in a header at each end. • The header connects the tubes together for series of parallel flow. • The cooling operation may be completed in two or more stages by mounting one unit above another. • Milk is distributed over the coil by means of distribution pipe or trough and the milk drops from the lower coil into a collection trough, from which it is removed by gravity or pump. • The cooling medium flows through the coil. • There are units available, called cabinet or fan type coders in which two or more surface type coils are used served by common distributor and collecting troughs, and one mounted within a cabinet having hinged doors. Build World-Class Food Factories PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering www.pmg.engineering info@pmg.engineering 3. Equipments (Cont.) 3.16 Plate Cooler: • For continuous cooling. • Commonly used in the dairy industry, especially for large scale handling. • Consists of several thin, flat, grooved, stainless steel plates, sealed at the edges with a gasket and clamped tightly within a press. • The spaces between the plates are occupied alternatively by the milk and the cooling medium (chill water / brine), • Thus, one side of each plate is exposed to milk and the other side to the cooling medium. Plates may be added to provide increased capacity at nominal cost. Build World-Class Food Factories PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering www.pmg.engineering info@pmg.engineering 3. Equipments (Cont.) 3.17 Can cover Loosener or openor: It opens or loosen the lid from the cans which is placed in the conveyor line after pre washer or immediately after unloading from vehicle. 3.18 Ventilation Duct : it is installed near ceiling to remove fumes, air, etc from reception dock. 3.19 Compressed Air Arrangement: connected to the top of tanks to empty the tanker under air pressure. Can cover Loosener Build World-Class Food Factories Ventilation Duct PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering www.pmg.engineering info@pmg.engineering 3. Equipments (Cont.) 3.20 Sanitary Piping: It convey milk from tankers to storage tanks which is generally made up of stainless steel. of scales, 3.21 Weigh bridge: Weigh bridge is a large set usually mounted permanentally on a concrete foundation, that is used to weigh entire rail or road vehicles and their contents.By weighing the vehicle both empty and when loaded, the load carried by the vehicle can be calculated. 3.22 Pre- Washer: it fits into conveyor lines which wash the exterior of milk cans before dumping. Weigh bridge Build World-Class Food Factories PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering www.pmg.engineering info@pmg.engineering 3. Equipments (Cont.) 3.23 Internal Tabular Cooler: • For continuous cooling. • It consists of a stainless-steel tube about 2.5 to 5.0 cm in diameter surrounded by a similar tube, forming a concentric cylinder. • Several such tubes may then be connected in series to obtain sufficient cooling. The cooling medium flows counter to the milk flow. Build World-Class Food Factories PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering www.pmg.engineering info@pmg.engineering 3. Equipments (Cont.) 3.24 Milk silo: • Usually of the capacities of 50,000-100000 tonnes. • They can hold large amount of product in less area. • Other considerations are: - Bottom slope 6%. - Control panel to show temperature, pressure, etc. - Electrode at the drainage line to indicate when tank becomes empty. Build World-Class Food Factories PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering www.pmg.engineering info@pmg.engineering Our Clients Build World-Class Food Factories # We deliver End-to-End Engineering Design and Construction Management Projects in Food and Beverage Industry. Meeting Global Benchmarks In ENGINEERING DESIGN and PROJECT MANAGEMENT for FOOD and BEVERAGE Industry with SINGLE POINT ACCOUNTABILITY Process Engineering | Project Management | Mechanical | Electrical | Automation | Food Safety Key Clients We deliver End-to-End Engineering Design and Construction Management Projects in Food and Beverage Industry. Meeting Global Benchmarks In ENGINEERING DESIGN and PROJECT MANAGEMENT for FOOD and BEVERAGE Industry with SINGLE POINT ACCOUNTABILITY Process Engineering | Project Management | Mechanical | Electrical | Automation | Food Safety Key Clients We deliver End-to-End Engineering Design and Construction Management Projects in Food and Beverage Industry. Meeting Global Benchmarks In ENGINEERING DESIGN and PROJECT MANAGEMENT for FOOD and BEVERAGE Industry with SINGLE POINT ACCOUNTABILITY Process Engineering | Project Management | Mechanical | Electrical | Automation | Food Safety Key Clients

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