THE IMPORTANCE OF DE-STONING IN POTATO INDUSTRY: A SMOOTH PROCESS

It’s all about quality and efficiency of production so all potato processors know that their end user wants a good tuber with little foreign matter. And this is where a good de-stoner comes in.

By Andre Erasmus

Customer satisfaction is always key in any successful business and this is no less the case in potato production. Whether the end user is a processor making French fries or mashed products or a fresh produce supplier offering washed potatoes to the supermarket consumer, the potato grower has to ensure top quality.

To a large extent, the biggest problem is getting rid of foreign matter – often stones, twigs and other such unwanted items in the harvested crop.

There are many companies out there like Tummers, Kiremko, VanMark, FTNon and the like who offer top class equipment to make the job easier. But we will focus on three UK companies here.

Herbert Engineering, established in 1972 by Rod Herbert, is a leading engineering manufacturer with over 40 years’ experience.

The company supplies handling systems for the agricultural, fresh pack, food processing, materials handling and waste management industries.

Herbert Engineering offers the complete service, from initial design and layout to building the equipment, installation and ongoing support’s latest addition to its range of de-stoners is the integrated de-stoner and barrel washer, that compliments their free-standing and cyclone de-stoners.

Andy Hubble, Herbert Engineering’s commercial manager, says: “Efficiency is right at the heart of this machine as customers cannot afford long periods of downtime during maintenance operations. So we set about making maintenance a quicker, simpler task.

“We achieved this for instance with a new welded on tail end construction with easy man-way access to the roller and bearings. At the same time, the main frame has been simplified to allow for easier cleaning with quick access to the base of the de-stoner for visual checks or service requirements while maintaining all safety aspects required of the Machinery Directive. The result is a reduction in running costs and improved returns.”