Kronen showcases new equipment for avocados, peppers, fruit, vegetables at Fruit Logistica

Kronen showcased numerous new and existing produce processing lines at Fruit Logistica 2022 in Berlin in early April.

Although attendee numbers were “noticeably lower than previous years,” Kronen was satisfied with its participation in the show, the company announced through a press release.

Visitors to its stand were particularly interested in innovations such as its fully automated, networked salad processing line, which was presented in the virtual showroom, and the live demonstration of the Convenience Avocado Line.

The avocado line, which is optimized for gently and efficiently peeling, halving and pitting up to 4,800 avocados per hour, was at a trade show for the first time.

Kronen also used its virtual showroom to present the fully automated robotics solution that it has developed for processing the delicate fruit. The main advantages of this solution include the maximum hygiene and reliability of the robot, which remains unaffected by even cold temperature ranges, thus minimizing the risk of failure. The robotics option also offers impressive flexibility and planning  because the robot can be used for as long as required and processes a fixed quantity of fruit that can be planned in advance.

Debuting was the DEW 200 dewatering press, which is used to remove excess liquid from products such as canned mushrooms and pickled or thawed vegetables with a capacity of up to 1,600 kilograms per hour, as well as the further development of the MINI form, fill and seal packaging machine from the Kronen partner GKS Packaging. The compact MINI was redesigned in 2021 and can pack a wide variety of packaging sizes — bag widths of 40 to 160 mm and unlimited bag lengths — with a capacity of up to 65 bags per minute. The MINI can also process small bag widths makes it particularly suitable for packaging ingredients and accompanying products such as croutons, rocket, salad dressing or mustard.

Another live trade show premiere showcased the semi-automatic PDS4L (see picture right) for coring and segmenting up to 3,360 peppers per hour, which was launched on the market in 2021. The machine enables two to three people to process up to 750 kg of bell peppers per hour. Using the PDS4L therefore means that at least two to three fewer people are required for product preparation. The peppers can be halved and optionally quartered by the machine. With its optimized operation, the system guarantees perfect cutting quality and a yield of around 85%, depending on the bell pepper variety and quality.

In addition to the machines at its booth, Kronen also presented its latest developments in the virtual showroom, including:

• A new processing line for up to 1,000 kilograms of baby leaf lettuce and the  corresponding quantity of mixed lettuce, which is networked and boasts state-of-the-art technology, sets new standards in the field of hygiene in particular and also features integrated new and further developments such as the K850 drying system, the GEWA AF pre-washing machine and the GEWA XL helical washing machine
• GEWA AF pre-washing machine. The new “Active Flume” washing system, which is suitable for large capacities of, for example, up to 1,500 kilograms of baby leaf lettuce, up to 3,000 kilograms of iceberg lettuce or up to 1,000 kilograms of baby spinach per hour and is optimized in terms of hygiene and low water consumption
• Kronen Citrocide washing system. An effective and organic-certified solution  for the hygienization of products and process water, which is an alternative to chlorine-based disinfection and also significantly reduces water consumption
• Chicory Root Cutter. Cuts up to 4,800 pieces per hour efficiently, safely and with perfect cutting quality

Kronen is a family owned, globally operating producer and supplier of stand-alone and special machines as well as of high-tech processing lines for the fresh-cut industry. The product range of Kronen and its partners covers fruit, vegetable and salad processing solutions for preparing, cutting, washing, de-watering, peeling, disinfecting and packaging. In addition, Kronen offers technical solutions for sectors such as meat and fish, bakery products, convenience and ready meals, dried and frozen products as well as pet food.

The company based in Kehl at the Rhine in Germany has over 120 employees and a second production site in Achern, representations in more than 80 countries worldwide and delivers its products in over 120 countries.

Top photo: Kronen’s new Creative Avocado Line on display at Fruit Logistica 2022.