Need Feedback On Two Vat Pasteurizers

[meadowood]

We have a sheep dairy and are just starting to process our own fresh cheese and yogurt (last year we rented space at a nearby licensed dairy).  We are about to equip our own make room, and are considering our vat-pasteurizer options.  We are looking at two v-p’s:  the van’t Riet Combination Vat, probably the 79 gallon version, and the Dairy Heritage Combo Vat, 1000# version.  Does anyone have any experience with either of these two ?  I’m interested in hearing anyone’s impressions of the DH vat, because it’s rectangular, and we were always told that the round v-p’s are better.  Also, any experience with either company in terms of support/service.  We’ve eliminated the QualTech from consideration because of warnings of poor support.  And we’ve come across the Kleen-Flo, which has a 100-gal v-p, but don’t know anything about the company.  Thanks for any input.

[FarmerMike]

I have looked at the Van't Riet vats, they are very nice, but expensive.  Somewhere on the web I saw a posting for a 79 gal Van't Riet vat for sale in Florida.  Not sure if it was set up as a pasteurizer, but might be worth talking to the seller abt.

As for square vats, not sure is they are allowed for pasteurizers (check with your inspector) but the shape does cause a problem when stirring: dead spots in the corners, were the milk is not moved.  With a rectangular vat, the stirring mechanism is more complicated since you not only have the circular (stirring), but the arm must travel up and down the length of the vat.

I am in the process of starting our own creamery, and I am probably going to get a rectangular vat from Kleen-Flo, but only as a cheese vat, no pasteurizing.  If I can find a round vat for the same price I would choose the round.

[Missy Greene]

any of you guys know where you can find a small pasteurizer?? I have searched the cheese supply places and they only go up to 2gal. Does anyone make one that does say 5-10 gal?
Thanks, Missy

[TroyG]

Frank Kipe makes a small unit.  I don't think it is on his website so you can email him for more information.

http://microdairydesigns.com/

[HoldaGale]

I am in the process of starting our own creamery, and I am probably going to get a rectangular vat from Kleen-Flo, but only as a cheese vat, no pasteurizing.