The Aviko Rixona factory in Oostrum is undergoing a major overhaul. The processing capacity will be expanded from 40 to 60 tons per hour. The big challenge is that the factory remains open during the renovation.
According to boerenbusiness.nl, the new set-up will have one large hall in which all the processes that the potatoes undergo before they are processed will be brought together. “After the new building, we will not only have a significantly higher capacity, but all processes will also be better aligned,” says Henri Peeters, team leader potato reception at Rixona Oostrum, on the company’s site.
The potato reception is completely renewed. For example, the drivers will soon be able to weigh in and out independently, there will be a new bunker block with a capacity of 1,400 tons and the temporary storage in trailers will disappear. In the future, the most modern techniques will be used for cleaning. There will be a completely new line of machines for receiving, dry cleaning, industrial washing, drying and storage. “We will soon have many more options for cleaning. It could even lead to less rejection. But we won’t know that until the entire receiving installation is fully in use,” says Peeters.
If everything goes according to plan, the new receiving installation and the previously installed new peeling line will go on trial runs before the summer break of 2022. After that, the annual production stop will be used to realize the new installation on the existing lines. The new installations will be fully operational at the start of the new season in August 2022. Because the daily capacity of the reception is lower in the current improvised situation, potatoes will be supplied 7 days a week instead of 6 until that time.
