Both spray drying and freeze-drying can be used to dehydrate dairy products, yet they serve different production objectives. For mass-market products such as whole milk powder, skimmed milk powder, and infant formula, spray drying is generally the more rational industrial choice due to its continuous production capabilities, high processing efficiency, and mature powder control technologies. Freeze-drying offers advantages primarily in low-temperature dehydration and the preservation of heat-sensitive components and product structures; however, its long production cycles, limited throughput, and high processing costs make it better suited for high-value, small-batch, or specialty dairy products.
A suitable manufacturer should be able to develop a comprehensive solution tailored to your specific products, production capacity, quality standards, and facility conditions, ultimately ensuring the line achieves its design capacity and operates stably. When comparing different suppliers, it is advisable to align the technical and delivery scopes before comparing prices. This approach helps avoid the higher additional investments and operational risks that can arise during project implementation due to initially low price quotes.
This article mainly introduces the costs of large, medium, and small-scale milk powder production lines, the differences and characteristics between production lines of different scales, and how to reduce investment in milk powder production lines in the future