A new machine for cutting and de-calyxing strawberries is to be launched in the UK in time for the 2012 season.
DWS, based in Hartlebury in Worcestershire, has developed the machine in response to demand from fruit processors in the UK and Europe.
Strawberries are presented to the machine by hand and automatically held in place as the berries are moved past a cutting mechanism which removes leaves and calyx.
Waste is removed automatically to an adjacent container. Each cycle of the machine cuts two strawberries which are discharged either onto a conveyor belt or into a suitable tray. Wastage levels of no more than 5% compare very favourably with hand cutting.
The DWS machine can handle a full range of strawberries typically processed in the UK throughout the year. One operator can achieve 50 -70Kg per hour depending on the size of strawberry.
By using additional cutting stations strawberries can be halved or quartered without loss of throughput.
No comments yet