Immersion chilling has a number of advantages. Water is a more efficient chilling medium than air. As dwell times are much shorter, immersion chill systems take up far less space and, if a processing plant has its own borehole, cost less to run. Immersion chilled product also increases yield for the processor.
Immersion chilled birds are typically hard scalded at a higher temperature to make for a less critical plucking process. The scald tank is shorter and fewer pluckers are needed. Immersion chilled product is often sold deep frozen.
If you want to keep the products shackled at all times, in-line immersion chilling is also an option as a pre-chilling stage of air-chilling.