Page 17 - AWA Vol.41-No.9 issue

FOOD PROCESSING

A new processing line for iceberg lettuce at Kanes Foods:

KRONEN realizes a customer-specific modification

with innovative technology

KRONEN GmbH has created a new processing line for
iceberg lettuce for the British salad and vegetable proces-
sor Kanes Foods. It completely modified and expanded
an existing line to achieve a new solution for sustainable
and efficient salad processing.
A customized solution for a long-standing customer
Kanes Foods, which is based in Great Britain, has been
producing fresh, ready-to-eat salads and vegetable prod-
ucts for the retail market and catering establishments
since 1990. The company is committed to fresh, healthy
food and values the use of locally grown raw produce.
Kanes Foods has already been using machines and line
solutions by KRONEN for preparing, cutting, washing and
drying vegetables for many years.
Its latest project required the integration of a processing
line for iceberg lettuce comprising existing machines and
new processing technology to form a continuous process- Foods to process up to 1,400 kg of iceberg lettuce per
ing line in the company’s production hall – all while tak- hour – hygienically, efficiently and with optimized use of
ing into account the structural conditions and workflows resources.
in place.
High-quality convenience products – for quick prepa-
Customer-specific adaptations to existing and new ration of healthy and tasty meals
machines
Founded with the vision that healthy and delicious meals
The project focused on the integration of existing (KRO- can also be quick and convenient, Kanes Foods now oper-
NEN) machines and new processing solutions to achieve ates on a 30-hectare site with state-of-the-art production
an individually adjusted salad processing line. The ar- lines, which now also include a line for processing iceberg
rangement of the individual components of the line was lettuce. The combination of quality and the commitment
coordinated on site in the production hall. The line com- to continuously develop the processing of fresh products
prises: makes Kanes Foods a recognized and forward-looking
• a six-person trimming table with a height adapted to player in the British food industry.
suit the floor conditions and allow the efficient transfer of Project implementation by KRONEN and an on-site
the raw produce to an already installed cutting machine partner
• an existing weighing belt converted into an inclined The complete execution of the processing line, including
conveyor and a transport conveyor belt for continuous planning, modification and commissioning, was imple-
operation mented in close cooperation with KRONEN’s British sales
• an already installed GEWA 4000 V washing machine partner Lingwood, which sent a team to install the line
with an adapted height integrated into the line controls directly on-site at Kanes Foods. Beforehand, the project
• a new GEWA 4000 B PLUS washing machine with a fine team from Kanes Foods accompanied Lingwood on a visit
particle removal system, water management and recy- to the KRONEN headquarters in Kehl am Rhein, Germany,
cling system, insect drum and a water circulation pipe to approve the machines.
system specially adjusted for the installation of an existing ”The close cooperation with KRONEN and the Lingwood
tubular heat exchanger The discharge belt was also fit- team played a significant role in the success of the project.
ted with a suction unit for initial removal of water from the The technical expertise and the support provided for the
washed lettuce. The design of the line allows the washed modification and the integration of existing and new ma-
product to be transferred directly onto the buffer belt of chines into the line were the driving forces behind our de-
the drying system cision – and the new line meets our expectations in every
• a new K850 drying system with a specially designed respect,” explains the project manager from Kanes Foods.
buffer belt for stand-alone operation. The line discharge The new line has been in operation in the company’s
was modified to allow the dried lettuce to be transferred production activities since the early summer and makes
directly into crates via an adapted crate slide an important contribution to the further development of
• The modified and expanded line now enables Kanes salad bowl production at Kanes Foods. Circle 18 on enquiry card
Vol. 41 No. 9 15