English: Inside detail of the dryer section of a DEMACO DTC-1000 Treatment Center for fresh pasta production. DEMACO built this machine in 1995 at its dryer production facility located at 7825A Ellis Road, Melbourne, Florida. This detail shows ground and polished welds which are typical for machines used in USDA inspected food plants. This type of smooth finish of machine surfaces facilitates daily cleaning and reduces harboring of pathogens, particularly in cracks and crevices.
A treatment center consists of a steamer and a dryer, and is part of a production line to produce fresh pasta. The steamer pasteurizes the pasta using steam and the dryer removes any free moisture on the product from the steaming process. After passing through the treatment center, the pasta generally goes into a modified atmosphere package. This process and packaging typically extend the shelf life of refrigerated fresh pasta to 45 days.