Cheese-Making Machine
A braided cheese machine is a food processing machine that automatically braids and shapes cheese dough—which has been boiled and developed a fibrous texture (typically varieties of Diyarbakır braided or string cheese)—without manual handling. These machines eliminate the labor-intensive process of traditional hand-braiding, enabling high-capacity production of standardized forms.
Key Features and Operating System
String cheese machines typically operate as a set and consist of the following units:
Kneading and Stringing Unit: Compresses the cheese dough using screws to form it into a strip (string).
Cooling and Cutting: The cheese strands are cooled in an ice water line to maintain their shape and cut to the desired length using pneumatic knives.
Automatic Braiding Belt: Automatically braids the cut cheese strands using a mechanical system.
Collection Tank: The finished braided cheese falls into a tank filled with brine, making it ready for packaging.
Technical Advantages
Speed Control: The speed of the screws and the braiding process can be adjusted via the PLC screen, allowing control over the product’s thickness and density.
Capacity: Industrial models have an average processing capacity of 500 kg of dough per hour.
Material: Manufactured entirely from AISI 304 grade stainless steel for hygiene; the dough hopper is typically Teflon-coated.
Pricing
Braided cheese machine prices vary widely depending on the system’s automation level and capacity:
Stranding and Forming Machines: Units that perform only stranding and basic shaping start at approximately $16,000 (€15,000 – $20,000).
Fully Automatic Lines: Advanced lines that include a complete braiding system, cooling tank, and cutting unit can cost over $35,000 to $50,000.
String cheese machines typically operate as a set and consist of the following units:
Kneading and Stringing Unit: Compresses the cheese dough using screws to form it into a strip (string).
Cooling and Cutting: The cheese strands are cooled in an ice water line to maintain their shape and cut to the desired length using pneumatic knives.
Automatic Braiding Belt: Automatically braids the cut cheese strands using a mechanical system.
Collection Tank: The finished braided cheese falls into a tank filled with brine, making it ready for packaging.
Technical Advantages
Speed Control: The speed of the screws and the braiding process can be adjusted via the PLC screen, allowing control over the product’s thickness and density.
Capacity: Industrial models have an average processing capacity of 500 kg of dough per hour.
Material: Manufactured entirely from AISI 304 grade stainless steel for hygiene; the dough hopper is typically Teflon-coated.
Pricing
Braided cheese machine prices vary widely depending on the system’s automation level and capacity:
Stranding and Forming Machines: Units that perform only stranding and basic shaping start at approximately $16,000 (€15,000 – $20,000).
Fully Automatic Lines: Advanced lines that include a complete braiding system, cooling tank, and cutting unit can cost over $35,000 to $50,000.