KRONEN presents new fresh-cut processing line
Kronen is now manufacturing four processing lines, one of which was recently demonstrated live to an audience of interested guests invited by the company.
The automated, networked line is the third of the four lines that make up the order. Two of the lines are already operating in the facilities of the fresh produce manufacturer, and the other two will be installed by the end of the year.
The hygienic processing lines boast state-of-the-art technology and set new standards. The demonstration offered visitors from throughout Europe, Latin America and the U.S. the opportunity to experience the innovative system in action while it processed a product.
The processing line, which forms part of a large-scale order, is currently located in Kronen’s production hall in the town of Kehl by the river Rhine. Just like the
fourth and final line of the order, it will be installed at the facility of its new owner, a manufacturer of fresh produce, by the end of the year. Two of the lines have already been in operation at the company since the start of the year.
“We were determined to offer our customers and interested visitors the opportunity to experience this new processing line live and fully functioning, namely with an actual product, before it enters into operation,” explains Stephan Zillgith, spokesman of the Kronen Board of Management. “We therefore invited
companies from the fresh-cut industry to the demonstration and were delighted
about the abundance of interest shown by the participants from Germany,
Switzerland, Norway, the Netherlands, Mexico, Belgium and Poland.”
A variety of live demonstrations were held on site at the Kronen facility in Kehl
throughout September. As well, an online demonstration via a live broadcast was provided for representatives of around 50 companies from Latin America and the U.S., who were unable to attend in person. The Kronen project team presented the processing line to customers and interested companies from the fresh-cut industry in various individual guided tours and discussions.
The customer plans to use the processing line for salad leaves, salad mixes and
leafy vegetables to process up to 1,000 kg of baby leaf lettuce or the equivalent
amount of mixed lettuce per hour. The line combines innovative washing and
drying technology from Kronen with dynamic weighing systems and mechanical and optical sorting solutions from company partners.
It contains a variety of new and further developed machines, including the K850 drying system, the GEWA AF pre-washing machine, and the GEWA XL HELICAL washing machine. What’s more, recipe weighing belts from Synergy Systems and a mechanical sorting system and UVC treatment system from HiTec Food Systems are also integrated into the line.
All of the components in the processing line are networked. The communication
between the machines and the visual displays for the machine operators help to
facilitate a reliable, constant and uninterrupted production flow. In turn, this enables the line to only require a small number of staff and to achieve a cost-efficient processing procedure. It also guarantees high processing capacities, maximum hygiene and quality in production.
