When it comes to the washing process, the demands placed on fresh-cut processors are growing: Due to restrictions on pesticide use – especially in Europe – the number of insects such as flies, aphids, and larvae found on salad leaves and vegetables is increasing. These insects all need to be filtered out of the wash water.
KRONEN has been further developing its washing solutions to meet these demands for many years. The HEWA- and GEWA-washing machines, for example, both offer optional integrated filter systems that remove insects and fine particles from the water during the washing process. As a result, items such as flies, fly larvae, aphids, and insect parts such as legs or wings are mechanically filtered out of the wash water.
Further developed filtration solutions for particularly challenging applications
The further development of these filtration technologies focuses on achieving even more efficient removal of insects, for example based on long-standing experience with particularly challenging applications such as the production of kosher food. For around 20 years, processors in Israel have already been using KRONEN washing machines with special filtration systems that are required to fulfill extremely strict demands when it comes to insect removal. These solutions have been continuously further developed and, in recent years, increasingly supplied to customers in other countries.
The expanded filter systems in washing machines for salad leaves are suitable for all processors that require particularly efficient filtration, for example due to increased amounts of insects on raw produce.
Well-established washing solutions with flexible options for even more efficient filtration
KRONEN offers a variety of additional solutions to optimize filtration across different product types and process requirements. In all HEWA and GEWA washing machines, the flow control in the wash tank causes light foreign particles to be pushed up to the surface of the wash water. Additional jets support this process by transporting fine particles up to the surface in an even more targeted manner.
Once on the water surface, the particles are continuously filtered out and discharged by the optional insect removal system, which is available as a drum or a basket insect. The insect removal system with a rotating drum is very effective when washing whole salad leaves or products with stems. In the case of larger washing machines such as the HEWA 5000, not one, but two of these drum systems can be integrated to further improve filter performance.
An additional option is the lateral fine particle removal drum, which also removes small particles from the recycled process water. The drum is available with different gap widths and ensures that removed particles are continuously discharged from the machine.Alternatively, filters can be installed above the pump tank. Perforated filter plates – with an optional additional filter strainer plate – enable even finer filtration of the water before it is returned to the washing process.The solely mechanical filtration reliably removes both insects and insect parts, provided that they detach from the product. The rinsing of products in the wash tank allows dirt to be removed reliably. In some cases, additives may need to be added to the wash water to detach adherent insects from the product surface.
With these modular filtration solutions, KRONEN helps fresh-cut processors tailor their washing processes to meet the challenges posed by increasing amounts of insects on salad leaves and vegetables while ensuring efficient, hygienic, and resource-friendly production processes at the same time.
