In the world of potato processing, Kiremko, a leading manufacturer of potato processing equipment, is pioneering a new era of efficiency and quality with its innovative hydrocutting technology. This technology is transforming the way potatoes are cut, offering a more efficient and precise method compared to traditional mechanical cutting.
Hydrocutting involves shooting tubers through knife blocks using water pressure. These hydro cutters have the ability to cut large amounts of tubers into perfectly long strips. The advantages compared to mechanical cutting are that hydro cutters can handle higher volumes of raw material and guarantee the desired longest strips. Switching between different strip and cut sizes is easy and can be done quickly.
Hydro vs. Mechanical Cutting
Hydro cutters are machines which “shoot” tubers through knife blocks using water pressure. These hydro cutters have the ability to cut large amounts of tubers into perfectly long strips. The advantages compared to mechanical cutting are that hydro cutters can handle higher volumes of raw material and guarantee the desired longest strips. Switching between different strip and cut sizes is easy and can be done quickly. However, the strips always need to be cut lengthwise and a hydro cutter is therefore less versatile than a mechanical cutter.
A mechanical cutter uses a complex mechanical system to cut the potato in slices, strips, crinkle strips, dices or other shapes. While mechanical cutting offers the advantage of flexibility in shaping various forms, it generally falls short in terms of capacity when compared to hydro cutting. Moreover, it cannot ensure the same level of precision in achieving a consistent strip size as hydro cutting can.
Maximizing French Fry Length with Hydrocutting
The length of the end product is largely determined by the way the raw product is cut. To ensure the best possible cut, a solid pre-sorting installation makes the difference to get the longest fries and the least amount of product waste. Processors gain a lot by making sure that especially the smaller potatoes are sorted correctly. By using multiple hydro cutting systems with different sizes of inlets, the potatoes are transported to the matching size hydro cutter for the longest French fries.
Optimizing French Fry Production
Hydro cutting systems are installed all over the world by Kiremko. Sometimes up to six stations are set up in a single French fry line to ensure the highest possible yield and the perfect cutting of potatoes into long French fries. Kiremko configures every cutting line to make sure that it is capable of handling different qualities and sizes of raw product.
Cutting Edge Research and Development
Research into the most effective hydro cutting setup is never finished at Kiremko. New potato varieties often have a different length-diameter ratio, which means that the cutting properties and the blade passage will have to be adjusted. In recent years, research into Pulsed Electric Field treatment, known as PEF, has gained a lot of interest.
A PEF-treatment sends an electric shock through the cell membrane of the raw tubers to perforate the cell walls. This process is also called electroporation. PEF on tubers result in a smoother cut, more flexible strips and a significant positive effect on not only cutting quality but also on drying, frying and freezing.
Optimizing Potato Cutting
Beside working with a PEF system, the best results can be achieved by optimization of water flow and speed in the cutting line and making sure that the knives inside the knife blocks are razor sharp and changed before they get blunt. The sharpness of a knife diminishes over time with extended use.
For Kiremko, finding the best setup has always been part of their research and development. The focus in the last few months has been on optimization of the waterflow. By using CFD (Computable Fluid Dynamics) software and high speed camera’s, Kiremko calculates the flow speed and substance in different circumstances, with different products and knives. Research proves that science and common sense play an equal role in finding the right solutions for cutting potatoes. And guarding the cutting system in place adds even more value to the process.
Kiremko’s Value-Driven Innovations
All together the units that Kiremko provides for a cutting line are focused on adding as much value for the customer as possible. To keep innovating and offering technology that is cutting edge in the market, researchers at Kiremko keep finding new ways to increase yield, lowering the strain on the environment but also making the process more efficient.
Kiremko’s innovative hydrocutting technology is revolutionizing the potato processing industry, offering a level of efficiency and precision that is setting new standards in the field. With its focus on continuous research and development, Kiremko is poised to continue leading the way in potato processing technology.
Source: Kiremko. Original news article here
Cover image: Credit Kiremko
