Turbo 220

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The First Back-and-Forth Linear Ice Pop Machine: Meet Finamac's TURBO and POPLINE Lines

In 2005, Finamac definitively democratized industrial ice pop production by launching its acclaimed semi-automatic linear machines. Engineered to deliver high performance at an accessible cost, they became the perfect solution to propel medium and small manufacturers to a professional standard!

Engineered to deliver high performance at an accessible cost, they became the perfect solution to propel medium and small manufacturers to a professional standard!

Historical Evolution of the Ice Pop: From Brine to the Disruptive Era

The trajectory of ice pop industrialization evolved from artisanal freezing in manual molds to highly automated systems. Discover the milestones that shaped this market:

1. The Industrial Revolution: Rotary, Inversion, and Oval Tracks (1950 – 1980)

  • 1950 | Hoyer (Denmark): Launched the HOYER ROLLO, the first industrial rotary machine with a continuous circular table (10,000 to 30,000 popsicles/h).
  • 1958 | FMC Corporation (USA): Patented the VITALINE, pioneering the linear system with a vertical mold inversion loop for continuous automatic sanitation.
  • 1960s | Gram Equipment (Denmark): Introduced the GRAM RIA line, establishing the global high-capacity standard for multinationals (>40,000 popsicles/h).
  • 1970s | Glacier Industries (USA): Introduced continuous extrusion with wire-cut stainless steel and forced-air freezing tunnel.
  • 1980s | LAIEF (Italy): Created the 'oval track' rotary machine (technology expanded by Teknoice in the RO line), eliminating the central blind spot and facilitating multi-filling dosing.

2. Mold Standardization and Semi-Industrial Automation (1990 – 2010)

  • Commercial Mold Standardization: Adoption of standardized stainless steel molds (8, 16, 22, or 28 cavities) paired with stick aligners.
  • Built-in Defrost Tanks: Integration of a compact 'water bath' within the frame to release popsicles in seconds.
  • High-Performance Thermal Fluids: Replacement of traditional brine with food-grade high-efficiency fluids (such as Finamac's FINAFLUID), ensuring freezing in under 10 to 12 minutes at -40 °C without equipment corrosion.

Finamac's Visionary Tradition: The Invention of the Simplified Linear Producer

Inspired by the legendary 1958 VITALINE — whose linear advance concept allowed aligning depositors, stick inserters, and extractors along the track —, Finamac radically reinvented the category. The company simplified operation by integrating standardized commercial molds, the same ones used in the brand's established artisanal machines (TURBO 25 and ROBOPOP).

From this ingenious engineering came the famous TURBO 80, TURBO 100, TURBO 220, and POPLINE lines, all equipped with automated linear mold movement:

  • The 'Back-and-Forth' Concept (TURBO 220): A milestone innovation where molds moved forward along one side of the equipment and returned via the opposite track. It could be configured with integrated defrost tanks and automatic stations along the path. Learnings from mold flow between tracks directly laid the groundwork for the later PopCircle rotary ice pop machine.
  • High Safety Engineering (TURBO 80, TURBO 100, and POPLINE): Continuously evolving in Finamac's portfolio, these lines feature ultra-safe linear movement systems and optimized external defrosting, guaranteeing maximum operational protection and zero splash contamination risk.
  • FINAFLUID Exclusivity: The entire line is perfectly sized to operate with FINAFLUID, Finamac's exclusive thermal fluid. It maintains flawless fluidity even at extreme temperatures of -40 °C, optimizing heat exchange without corroding components — a competitive advantage unmatched by any other machine in the market!

These acclaimed linear lines paved the road of innovation at Finamac, setting the stage for the arrival of revolutionary direct-cold machines: AUTOPOP and SPEEDYPOP.