KRONEN GmbH has created a new processing line for iceberg lettuce for the British salad and vegetable processor Kanes Foods. To achieve this, it completely modified and expanded an existing line, as well as adapting it to suit the conditions in place at the production facility, with the aim of achieving sustainable and efficient processing of iceberg lettuce and other salad leaves with a modern line.
A customized solution for a long-standing customer
Kanes Foods, which is based in Great Britain, has been producing fresh, ready-to-eat salads and vegetable products for the retail market and catering establishments since 1990. The company is committed to fresh, healthy food and values the use of locally grown raw produce. Kanes Foods has already been using machines and line solutions by KRONEN for preparing, cutting, washing and drying vegetables for many years.
Its latest project required the integration of a processing line for iceberg lettuce comprising existing machines and new processing technology to form a continuous processing line in the company’s production hall – all while taking into account the structural conditions and workflows in place.
Customer-specific adaptations to existing and new machines
The project focused on the integration of existing (KRONEN) machines and new processing solutions to achieve an individually adjusted salad processing line. The arrangement of the individual components of the line was coordinated on site in the production hall. The line comprises:
- a six-person trimming table with a height adapted to suit the floor conditions and allow the efficient transfer of the raw produce to an already installed cutting machine
- an existing weighing belt converted into an inclined conveyor and a transport conveyor belt for continuous operation
- an already installed GEWA 4000 V washing machine with an adapted height integrated into the line controls
- a new GEWA 4000 B PLUS washing machine with a fine particle removal system, water management and recycling system, insect drum and a water circulation pipe system specially adjusted for the installation of an existing tubular heat exchanger. The discharge belt was also fitted with a suction unit for initial removal of water from the
washed lettuce. The design of the line allows the washed product to be transferred directly onto the buffer belt of the drying system
- a new K850 drying system with a specially designed buffer belt for stand-alone operation. The line discharge was modified to allow the dried lettuce to be transferred directly into crates via an adapted crate slide
The modified and expanded line now enables Kanes Foods to process up to 1,400 kg of iceberg lettuce per hour – hygienically, efficiently and with optimized use of resources.
Project implementation by KRONEN and an on-site partner
The complete execution of the processing line, including planning, modification and commissioning, was implemented in close cooperation with KRONEN’s British sales partner Lingwood, which sent a team to install the line directly on-site at Kanes Foods. Beforehand, the project team from Kanes Foods accompanied Lingwood on a visit to the KRONEN headquarters in Kehl am Rhein, Germany, to approve the machines.
”The close cooperation with KRONEN and the Lingwood team played a significant role in the success of the project. The technical expertise and the support provided for the modification and the integration of existing and new machines into the line were the driving forces behind our decision – and the new line meets our expectations in every respect,” explains the project manager from Kanes Foods.
The new line has been in operation in the company’s production activities since the early summer and makes an important contribution to the further development of salad bowl production at Kanes Foods.
