In potato storage and processing facilities, conveying systems are vital because they move potatoes from one part of the facility to another.

The entire potato sorting, washing, peeling, chopping, and packaging process can be expedited with the use of conveyors, increasing productivity and lowering costs. Conveyors can also be made to accommodate potatoes of different shapes and sizes and can be made to limit the amount of damage the potatoes sustain while being transported.

Companies have been trying to maximize throughput and efficiency on production lines by using design and technological advancements. By reducing downtime, design modifications that make conveyor systems simpler to clean and maintain also contribute to increased efficiency. Additionally, more manufacturers are actively trying to reduce noise, improve control, and use less electricity to make conveyor systems more environmentally friendly. When a company prioritizes sustainability, low-power conveyors can make a big difference in achieving its sustainability objectives.

“Updating conveyor systems or investing in new conveying technology is a game-changer for ensuring products move as quickly and efficiently from one part of the production line to the next. By improving production line efficiencies, potato processors can benefit from higher productivity levels and increased profitability – leading to an improved ROI. Plus, a smoother product transfer results in less or no product breakage, which upholds the product’s consumer appeal and keeps them coming back for more. It’s a win-win situation!” tna experts said.

According to Key Technology’s engineers, understanding the nature of the product and how it slides, rolls, and flies, as well as how to present the product at each stage of the process to maximize each machine’s performance, is essential to designing the perfect conveyors for any application. Conveyor design is an art and science that involves combining the ideal geometry, speed, stroke, chutes, lanes, diverters, and gates to feed, collect, grade, and distribute materials.

Presenting Product in an Ideal Manner

Conveyors must work in perfect harmony with all potato processing equipment, including digital sorters, peelers, cutters, blanchers, dryers, fryers, freezers, and weighing and packaging machines, to maximize performance and present product in the best possible way. Conveyors for infeed, collection, grading, and distribution are critical components in a potato processor’s endeavors to raise yields, improve product quality, and optimize overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Excellent conveyor selection and equipment design engineering must be combined with in-depth processing understanding and application skills to get the most out of these integrated systems.

You can read the rest of this article in your complimentary e-copy of Issue 1 of Potato Business Digital 2024 magazine, which you can access by clicking here.