Future Processing
As the recognized global leader in industrial food cutting technology, Urschel is continuously adapting to the ever-changing needs of processors. As an engineering/manufacturing company, every part and every process behind each part is consistently reviewed and refined.
By Expert Mike Jacko, Vice President of Applications & Product Development at Urschel
With so many capabilities under one roof, valuable developments and improvements are fast-tracked. Constantly partnering with processors and line builders, Urschel readily implements new methods and efficiencies to benefit the overall production line-up, both upstream and downstream from Urschel cutting equipment.
With so many different styles of potato products, there is a wide gamut of potato production facilities around the world. Production and needs vary from regional processors to global, mega-processors. Future decisions will be as diverse as the operations themselves.
Analytical Efficiencies
More customers are becoming aware of the overall analysis of plant line operations. Processors may choose to embrace the gathering of analytical data. The more data that is gathered, the more in-depth decisions may be possible to increase plant efficiencies. The goals may be straightforward or more elaborate. The first step is to determine what types of improvements are necessary and to ascertain how to quantify the various objectives.
The collection of any data should be backed by a concrete purpose. The gathering of data is futile without a comprehensive plan. Mega-processors can analyze the solid nature of the potatoes, water use, starch loss, cut quality, and multiple comparables to increase cut quality, evaluate the sharpness and life of different knife blades, and determine cost analysis across the production line. As a processor grows in volume, the customer may choose to invest with the help of a line builder to increase electronic sensors and gather analytics at each step of the line.
Analysis of data to determine an upgrade in technology may be simple or more complex. For example, in the case of several kettle chip processors who performed a side-by-side comparison for kettle fill times between the Urschel standard 8-station head versus the MicroAdjustable SL14-station head. Calculations based on the number of batches and fill times were easily achieved. Further cost analysis and comparison of maintenance procedures and time yielded upgrading to a newer technology – the 14-station head – as a logical next step to improve the line.
Upgrading technology in one area of the line may lead to changing out of other stations. For example, standard chippers updating to the SL14 slicing head, in some cases, purchased larger capacity downstream equipment, such as fryers.
You can read the rest of this article in your complimentary e-copy of Issue1of Potato Business Dossier 2022, which you can access by clicking here.
