With its new production hall, the company Pentz GmbH & Co. KG has expanded its capacities for kitchen-ready products. A new processing line from KRONEN GmbH handles the washing and drying of approx. 7,000 kilograms of leaf lettuce every day, as well as packaging it in portions.

By constructing an additional new production hall, the family company has further invested in its processing activities for fresh fruit and vegetables. For processing salad leaves, the company was looking for a complete solution that combines different process steps and meets high demands with regard to hygiene, flexibility, and user-friendliness. To achieve this, Pentz teamed up with KRONEN to plan and create a line for washing, drying, and packaging salad leaves.

Technical progress for growing ready-cut production

The family company from the German town of Essingen is currently managed by the fourth generation of its founding family. In addition to fruit and vegetable retail activity, the production of fresh-cut products has developed to become an important field of business. 

Pentz offers kitchen-ready fruit and vegetable products, including various raw food mixes, salad leaves, and salad mixes. Its wide range of products poses high demands when it comes to processing flexibility, which is why the company is committed to investing in modern processing technology. Its main objective is to combine efficient and resource-friendly processes with constantly high product quality. 

These requirements also played a role when planning the new production hall. Pentz needed a processing line that could reliably wash and dry products before packaging them in portions. At the same time, the technology needed to be suitable for frequent product changes and offer quick and easy cleaning. Other criteria set by the company included simple machine operation and low maintenance requirements. 

A consistent solution for washing, drying, and packaging

Pentz placed high value on implementing the various processing steps with a central contact. The project therefore kicked off with a joint workshop full of intense discussions. With its comprehensive experience in planning and creating complete processing lines for salad and vegetables, the KRONEN team was soon able to come up with a solution tailored to meet the needs expressed by Pentz. 

The new line processes salad leaves to produce kitchen-ready salad mixes. It processes up to 7,000 kg of salad every day. The line comprises three washing machines, a K650 drying system, a KWT 16 weighing platform, two packaging machines from the KRONEN partner GKS, and several conveyor belts, which ensure the product flow between the machines. 

Hygienic design supports flexible production

One of the main focuses when choosing the processing technology was placed on hygiene as the foundation for the quality of the processed fresh products. And this precisely where the hygienic design of the HEWA washing machines, for example, comes into its own. The machines are designed for rapid cleaning with a structure optimized in terms of hygiene. As a result, they help Pentz efficiently integrate the necessary cleaning processes into its day-to-day production activities, even in the case of changing products.

The combination of washing, drying, and packaging technology also supports Pentz’ objective of using modern technology to further develop its production while ensuring the consistently high quality of its kitchen-ready products.

Close cooperation from the order to the finished line

Pentz and KRONEN GmbH have been working together for many years. The company already uses several KRONEN machines, including two KUJ-V cube, strip & slice cutting machines, three GS 10-2 belt cutting machines, several GEWA washing machines, and lettuce spin-dryers, as well as three packaging machines from the KRONEN partner GKS. The new line also resulted from close cooperation between the two companies, with efficient coordination leading to rapid project progress. 

”For our new production hall, we wanted a consistent solution that meets our requirements with regard to hygiene, flexibility, and simple operation. Our initial talk with the KRONEN sales team was rapidly followed by a joint workshop. The team understood the processes we required and worked with us to develop a suitable line based on our needs. The coordination was straightforward and involved working together as equals right up to the final acceptance and putting the line into operation. With the new line, we can now use modern processing technology to further expand our ready-cut production activities,” stated Maximilian Pentz, summarizing the successful project. 

Before delivery, the complete line was approved following a product test at the KRONEN facility in Kehl am Rhein, Germany. The system was then delivered to Pentz. The installation and initial operation of the line in the new production hall also took place in cooperation with KRONEN. 

Kitchen-ready salads for restaurants, hotels, and catering facilities

For customers from restaurants, hotels, and catering facilities, the kitchen-ready products reduce preparation work and make working processes easier, especially during staff shortages. The new processing line enables Pentz to meet the growing demands for kitchen-ready products, offer a wide product range, and achieve high quality standards in the industrial processing of its products.

About KRONEN GmbH

KRONEN is a family-managed globally operating producer and supplier of stand-alone machines, special-purpose machines, and high-tech processing facilities for the fresh-cut industry. The product portfolio of KRONEN and its partners covers fruit, vegetable, and salad leaf processing: from preparing, cutting, washing, drying, dewatering, peeling, and sterilizing right through to packaging. KRONEN additionally offers machines for the processing of meat and fish, special vegan products, baked goods, and pet food.
The company, which is based in Kehl am Rhein, Germany, and has a second production site in the nearby city of Achern, currently employs more than 130 members of staff, has representatives in over 80 countries worldwide, and supplies its products to more than 120 nations all over the globe.
With more than 45 years of experience in food technology, KRONEN prides itself on its quality awareness and constantly strives to achieve the best possible solutions in its day-to-day work. The machine manufacturer focuses on taking a sustainable, holistic approach toward the hygienic, reliable, and resource-friendly production of fresh foods. KRONEN considers itself to be a think tank that provides innovative solutions to benefit its customers and meet all their needs. It guarantees top-quality advice and planning expertise in close cooperation with the industry and research establishments.

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