Optifreeze

About Optifreeze

OptiFreeze, which now operates as OptiCept Technologies after a 2021 merger with ArcAroma, is a Swedish company founded in 2011. It originated from research conducted at the Department of Food Technology at Lund University. The company has developed a patented technology platform to improve the quality and shelf life of various biological products, addressing both the food and plant industries. A significant milestone was achieved in 2020 when the company was approved for listing on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market. In May 2021, OptiFreeze merged with ArcAroma AB to form OptiCept Technologies.

The core of the business revolves around two patented technologies: Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) and Vacuum Infusion (VI). The PEF technology, branded as CEPT®, uses short, high-voltage electrical pulses to treat biological materials. This non-thermal process enhances extraction, extends shelf life, and improves the quality of food products in terms of taste, color, and nutritional content. The VI technology, known as OptiBoost®, is used for plant products like cuttings and flowers to improve their durability and growth performance. This process involves soaking the product in a solution containing natural sugars and proteins and then applying the PEF treatment to help the cells absorb these protective substances. This dual approach helps preserve the structure and quality of products like fruits, vegetables, and flowers during freezing, thawing, and drying.

OptiFreeze targets a diverse client base, including food producers, processors, and the plant propagation industry. The company has engaged in strategic partnerships with major industry players. A notable collaboration is with Syngenta, a leading agricultural company, to apply the technology to flower cuttings. This partnership aimed to establish the OptiFreeze system as an industrial standard. The company has also worked with firms in the dried vegetables and herbs sector and the forestry industry to explore new applications for its technology. The business model includes the sale of its processing machinery, such as the OptiCept™ line, and a recurring revenue stream from royalties for each processed item. They also generate income from the sale of consumables used in the process.