When it comes to cleaning bunches of fresh mint, the Colombian company La Corsaria successfully relies on a GEWA 3800V ECO washing machine with an insect removal drum and on three KS-100 PLUS vegetable and lettuce spin-dryers by KRONEN. Its system currently processes approximately 100 kg of mint per hour with just one circulation pump – and even offers much higher capacity reserves.
Processing mint involves a special challenge, namely the fact that although its delicate leaves are susceptible to damage, it is also essential that small insects such as fleas or worms/larvae are removed reliably. At La Corsaria, the mint leaves are first gathered into manageable bunches and secured with elastic bands before being transported into the washing machine via a conveyor belt.
Herb processing with maximum hygiene standards: Washing mint and removing insects
The GEWA 3800V ECO is ideally tailored to master this application: An upward-facing water jet at the inlet generates a flow that automatically moves the bunches under the surface of the water. In the case of large product quantities, the insect and fine particle removal system also plays an important role by completely submerging particularly light bunches to enable more thorough cleaning. Furthermore, a dosing pump adds chlorine to the wash water as needed. Tests have proven that thanks to the integrated insect removal solution, even the smallest foreign particles are reliably removed from the mint during the washing process. The thoroughly washed mint is then dried in KRONEN spin-dryers and packed in bags.
The GEWA 3800 ECO: a washing machine for herbs, leafy vegetables and delicate products
The GEWA 3800 ECO washing machine is suitable for a multitude of different products, from salad leaves, leafy vegetables and fruit right through to delicate herbs such as mint. It combines a space-saving design with high efficiency and can process a product amount of up to 1,800 kg per hour.
What’s more, its HELICAL washing system ensures gentle product movement while minimizing water consumption. The machine offers a variety of different equipment options, such as a vibration or belt outfeed, for flexible integration into existing lines. The insect drum, for example, is a specially developed additional unit for removing light particles or unwanted tiny insects.
