DRYING POTATOES - SECOMAK DRYER SPEEDS POTATO PROCESSING FOR SAINSBURY’S SUPPLIER

A Secomak air knife drying system and turbo blower has been employed at MBM Potatoes, for use at its Shrewsbury potato processing facility. MBM Potatoes process and pack potatoes, mainly for Sainsbury’s in the UK.

After passing through a wash facility, the potatoes need to be sorted, weighed and packed. Secomak’s drying equipment is positioned immediately before a sort/weigh/package machine, above the moving conveyor of potatoes. To ensure accuracy, as well as for packaging purposes, the potatoes must be dry before weighing.

Space constraints meant that the system had to be mounted directly over the process line. Demonstrating the company’s customer focus, Secomak introduced an air distribution manifold to neatly solve the problem.

Brushes and vibrating tables were considered as alternative drying techniques but were discounted as costs were too great, and both options were high maintenance.

Secomak’s drying system was purchased as it offered easy installation, low power consumption, and flexibility.