There are generally two types of seasoning equipment available to snack manufacturers: mainline (MLS) and on-machine seasoning (OMS) systems. Which technology is more suited often comes down to the product mix, cost, flexibility, and efficiency. MLS is a great solution for long, single product runs, while OMS offers a higher level of flexibility.

The most popular procedure for flavoring and seasoning is dry seasoning, which is fed, either volumetrically or gravimetrically, manually or automatically, into the hopper of a single or twin-screw (auger) feeding system. As for the taste itself, Asian flavors and the traditional sour cream and onion remain among consumers’ favorites.

The traditional kitchen seasoning, where products are seasoned together and then elevated up to the multi-head weighing and packaging stations, is gradually being taken over. Instead, with the on-machine seasoning (OMS) systems, each weighing and packaging station has its mini seasoning system which allows producers to handle different flavors on different machines at the same time, increasing flexibility and drastically reducing downtime for cleaning. This trend has been driven to a great extent by the hard discount retailers who often require short flavor runs at a moment’s notice, thereby necessitating fast response times and flexibility by the snack producers.

As demand for flavored potato chips and snacks continues to increase, equipment manufacturers will have to keep up the flow of innovation by constantly improving their existing solutions and coming up with new concepts to better tackle the existing challenges posed by the industry.

Currently, consumers are increasingly seeking processed potatoes that are flavored, seasoned, or coated with more natural ingredients. At the same time, exotic flavors are gaining ground, but the classics are here to stay.

Turnkeys Solutions to Optimize The Seasoning Process

There are numerous ways to optimize the seasoning process and one of the answers is a fully integrated solution. Tna’s latest and most advanced seasoning solution is the tna intelli-flav® OMS 5.1. According to Simon Hill, regional sales manager, tna Europe, this is a flexible on-machine seasoning (OMS) system that can accommodate both powder flavoring and liquid oil in a single seasoning drum – making it the ideal choice for applications where flexibility and quick product changeover is key.

You can read the rest of this article in your complimentary e-copy of Issue 1 of Potato Business Digital 2022 magazine, which you can access by clicking here.