Products processed: dried fruit and vegetables
Disaggregation of a large volume of dried fruit
Customer objectives
Our customer wanted to process a large volume of agglomerated dried fruit, such as dried bananas, apricots, grapes, coconut petals and dried mangoes, so that they could be accurately separated and dosed to form different blends. The process had to meet the imperative of guaranteeing the integrity of the products despite their fragility and varying density.
The installation would handle volumes of up to 500 kg/h, while providing final packaging in super bags to feed an associative packaging machine, which would fill the bags via a gooseneck.
This solution would not only optimise the efficiency of the dried fruit processing, but also preserve the quality of the final products, guaranteeing high-quality production and maximum customer satisfaction.
The proposed solution
Palamatic Process has designed and developed a complete solution, including a mixing line for fragile products to handle these dried fruit.
The system starts with a de-stoner to separate the agglomerated products, followed by 8 vibrating feeders to ensure a controlled and precise feed for each type of fruit.The dried fruit is then transferred to a conveyor which feeds a rotating tank mixer integrated into the Drybulk Mix 1200 line.Once the mixing is complete, the product is packed into bulk bags using the Flowmatic 03 Care filling system. Finally, the bulk bags are taken back to feed an associative packer, which fills the 250g to 1kg bags using a gooseneck system.
This process ensures optimised final packaging for distribution. It guarantees consistent quality and gentle handling of the dried fruit.
The industrial equipment making up the facility
The Palamatic Process gin
The Palamatic separator is designed to separate agglomerated dried fruit while respecting its structure. This device ensures a constant flow rate of up to 500 kg/h, guaranteeing a regular and controlled feed of the products. This initial stage is crucial for preparing the dried fruit for further processing without damaging it.
Vibratory feeders
Vibratory feeders play an essential role in the precise control of the dried fruit feed. Each feeder is capable of handling flow rates ranging from 50 to 500 kg/h, with dosing precision adapted to the varying density of the dried fruit (0.2 to 0.6 kg/L). This precision ensures that the feed is constant and homogenous, guaranteeing optimum quality for the products processed.
The Palamatic Process conveyor
The Palamatic Process conveyor is specially designed to transfer dried fruit smoothly to the mixer. With particular care taken to limit shocks, this conveyor guarantees a smooth and controlled transfer, preserving the integrity of the products. This step is crucial to avoid any deterioration of the dried fruit during transport.
The Drybulk Mix 1200 rotary blender
The Drybulk Mix 1200 rotary blender is a key component of the solution. It ensures a homogeneous mix of dried fruit without breaking or altering the products. With a maximum mixing volume of 1200 L and a low head, this mixer preserves the integrity of the dried fruit while ensuring uniform mixing. This step is essential for obtaining a high-quality end product.
The FlowMatic® 03 Care filling station
The FlowMatic® 03 Care filling station includes a function that automatically raises the bottom to prevent dried fruit from breaking during packing. This feature reduces the height at which products fall to less than 30 cm, minimising the risk of spoilage. The packaging capacity is 500 to 1000 kg per jumbo bag, with a weighing accuracy of ± 0.5%. This stage ensures precise, delicate packaging of the dried fruit.
The associative filling machine
The bulk bags are fed into a multipacker, which fills the 250g to 1kg bags via a gooseneck system. This process ensures that the final packaging is optimised for distribution, guaranteeing consistent quality and gentle handling of the dried fruit.
The advantages of the Palamatic Process solution
Precise separation and dosing
The gin and vibratory feeders ensure precise separation and dosing of the products. This precision is essential to obtain homogeneous, high-quality mixes.
Product preservation
The low drop height, combined with equipment designed to limit shocks, guarantees product integrity throughout the process.
Food hygiene
Designed to comply with the most stringent agri-food standards, this facility guarantees maximum safety. Every component is carefully designed to comply with health requirements, ensuring optimum food hygiene and protection against contamination.
Flexibility
The system can be adapted to handle different types of dried fruit and other fragile products. This flexibility allows it to meet a variety of production needs, providing a versatile and efficient solution for a range of industrial applications.
Safe packaging
FlowMatic® 03 Care guarantees breakage-free packaging, with a precise filling process and constant monitoring of drop heights.
Conclusion
This tailor-made solution enabled the customer to automate and optimise its dried fruit processing and packaging process, while guaranteeing optimum quality of the finished product.
By integrating a destoner to separate agglomerated products and vibrating feeders for controlled feeding, Palamatic Process ensured precise and efficient management of the dried fruit. The rotating tank mixer and FlowMatic® 03 Care filling system ensured that product integrity was maintained throughout the process, guaranteeing high-quality production and maximum customer satisfaction. This relevant solution has not only improved operational efficiency, but also reduced the risk of product spoilage, ensuring consistent quality and increased productivity.
This solution can also be applied to cereals, with our gentle mixer for cereals.
We are at your disposal to optimise your production processes and help you achieve your performance and quality objectives. Visit our website or contact our team of experts.