Tong Engineering Ltd
Ashby Road, Spilsby,
Lincolnshire PE23 5DW
Tel: 0044(0) 1790 752771
Fax: 0044(0) 1790 753611
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HI-TECH ADVANCES IN POTATO SORTING
Two new advances by leading produce handling specialists
Maf Roda — precision weight grading and the long-awaite camera quality sorting — are being brought to the UK vegetable
packing industry by Tong Peal Engineering.
The new Oneway Weight Grader incorporates the latest computer
technology, a major factor in the continued success of Maf Roda,
allowing tubers to be weighed to within three grams and making
available as many weight bands as required.
The model uses heavier duty components from an existing fruit
sizer and gives increased capacity with up to 400 cups per minute,
fewer moving parts and reduced maintenance. The potato crop is
singulated on vee belts to give a greater cup-fill to the newly
designed cups, which sit on carrying chains without the need for
the support rods supplied on previous models.
The simple cup tipping mechanism is solenoid activated at a
programme nominated outlet on the grader, giving a gentle
discharge of the potato to the outlet conveyor.
"Interest in the Oneway is very high as customers are looking to
replace existing Maf machines for higher capacities and lower
operating cost," says Barry Ledger, sales manager of Tong Peal
Engineering. "We’ve already had our first two orders.
He visited the Maf factory at Montabaun, France, to see the latest
developments in camera quality sorting of potatoes by colour and
shape. The company has been using this technology for many
years for colour sorting fruit and length grading carrots.
"Maf are achieving extremely impressive results in quality sorting
potatoes," says Mr Ledger. "Fingertip control of the programme
allows the user to eliminate defects in varying degrees. The cameras
also enable separating by shape within the same weight band,
providing a more uniform sample which adds value to the crop."
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