Abstract: Blocks of curd, solidified and formed in open tank-like trucks, are transferred to a brine tank by overhead monorail and floated in brine to withdraw moisture. The blocks are moved along the tank by a floating boom and/or an air-induced circulation of the brine solution, and are removed at one end of the tank by an inclined, partially submerged, conveyor. The blocks are conveyed from the tank, seal in an evacuated bag, weighed, and conveyed to a crating station where a crate is placed up side down over the block and the block and crate are rotated vertically by a tiltable portion of a conveyor to invert the crate and block for further handling, storage and curing.