Potato peeling is an active and crucial stage of production and can have a decided effect on the quality and yield of the finished product. Today’s processor is looking for an energy-efficient, versatile peeler that minimizes peel loss and downtime.
Peeling is one of the most important steps in potato processing and optimum yield greatly relies on the efficiency and effectiveness of the method of peeling and associated processes including washing, brushing, scrubbing and polishing.
The peel is removed by the use of heat, chemicals and mechanical abrasive methods. Knife peeling is still used by hand for small volumes or by using drum-shaped mechanized knife peelers.
Historically, common industrial processes were caustic or lye peeling, however today steam peeling and abrasive peeling dominate the market, depending on type and variety of products produced and intended capacity. Today’s abrasive (both batch and continuous) and steam peelers are commonly used by medium to large processors and are highly advanced. Lye peeling involves bathing potatoes in a caustic solutions before both the skin and solution are scrubbed off – a method still employed by fruit producers (peaches) – but less by potato peelers.
Processors are concerned about efficiency in terms of lowest peel loss, highest performance and energy; and reliability and maintainability in terms of the highest uptime and lowest maintenance time. Vammark general manager, Tom Mathues, agrees and adds service to the mix.
“Probably the biggest concern is that equipment will actually do what the manufacturer says it will do. Also, customers want reassurance that the manufacturer will stand behind their equipment and be there for future support if needed,” he said.
“We are experts at troubleshooting and offering suggestions on how to handle roll configurations and pretty much anything that could ever come up. It’s awfully nice to be able to pick up the phone and talk to an expert that can solve a potential problem in seconds.” Vanmark’s general manager reflected.
With strong roots in the potato industry, the U.S-based firm has supplied food processing equipment worldwide for 50 years with recent advancement, including the high-volume Peeler/Scrubber/Washer series. The latest model, the 2920/2922 comes standard with the Innovative Natural Flow Gate witch significantly improves peeler efficiency.
Mathues concedes customers’ growing interest in water efficiency, an area Vanmark is prioritizing in terms of research and development. For example, to combat post-filtering starch clogging, peel residue and waste steam filtering systems are feasible.
“We are working with outside companies to develop more affordable filtering systems targeted specifically at our style of machines. There is no question that significantly reduced water usage and lower waste stream loads are high priorities of nearly every processor. A lot of processors have their own waste water treatment facilities, and recycling water is an ongoing process in the industry,” Mathues said.
Reducing energy consumption can mean better bottom line results and also adds value to a processor’s corporate social responsibility (which feeds back into improved bottom line results).
Mathues said the energy efficiency of peelers has improved and that today not only do all Vanmark peelers have a 90 percent energy efficient motor as a standard feature, which is easily realized in monetary savings, there are several other areas where efficiency can be fine-tuned.
“Bearing drag and peeling surface efficiency all contribute to energy usage,” he said.
“In all of our new designs, our drive systems have been specified with sealed-for-life bearings that have proven to be very durable. This means that bearing wear, which adds drag, is significantly reduced hence adding to energy efficiency.”
Vanmark’s continuous peelers comprise poly chain belting and sealed composite bearings, requiring no maintenance. Poly chain belting and associated pulley profiles are a more refined form of timing belt and have significantly stronger reinforcing belting and a stronger tooth profile. “Together these have made belt failures that occur after a significant run time in the earlier timing belt applications a very rare occurrence,” Mathues revealed. The company has not replaced a poly chain belt due to normal wear failure in our four years of field exposure.
Vanmark’s 2420 series means small-volume processors can use a continuous peeler specifically designed for lower throughput rates; and also gives larger processors the opportunity to try an inexpensive machine for new products or new recipes. Mathues added that it can be handy for large processors during surge situations. Does this mean processors across the board are looking for multi-purpose peelers? “Absolutely,” Mathues enthused, adding that small clients that deal with a variety of products benefit from their equipment’s quick roll changes.
“We can wash and polish potatoes requiring no peel removal for a gourmet potato bar, peel potatoes and carrots for a wholesale distributor in the afternoon, and then wash the little black bumps off the really small cucumbers for a pickle processor, all in the same machine, in the same day,” he said.
“When processors realize how efficient each process can be after a specific setup is developed for a given product, the market often tends to grow based on improved processing costs. This allows the processor to sometimes justify having a specific machine designated for the new market generated. We have some customers who have started doing five or six different products in the same machine and then growing the business accordingly.”
