US: Potato-product supplier standardizes process automation system at new facility

One frozen potato-product supplier operates 15 potato-processing plants globally. The automated French fry production process begins with the delivery of raw potatoes to the plants. The potatoes are then machine peeled, washed, cut, dipped in batter, fried, frozen and finally packaged for distribution. This continuous process takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours with no bottlenecks or process upsets. When the supplier decided to build a new continuous process plant for frozen French fries in eastern Oregon, it wanted to establish a new control standard for its frozen potato plants globally. The company decided on a standardized approach in response to challenges encountered with an automated process control system at a similar facility in Louisiana. In June 2013, the potato product supplier collaborated with a consultant to design and implement a continuous-process automation system for its frozen French fry production facility in eastern Oregon. The company selected a process automation system that is scalable, flexible DCS for plant-wide control. Concept Systems worked with process designers to design, implement and commission the new system. More