Tummers Food Processing Solutions attracted a lot of attention at the recent Interpom. This Dutch company showed off its new, energy-efficient steam peeler. The engineering firm decided to develop a new machine for, among other things, its leading potato flake lines. ''The first machine has been running for over 2.5 years now,'' says Tummers product manager Edwin Langbroek. By now, they have sold 12 models of the Tummers Steam Peeler (TSP) worldwide.
''We used to buy between four and six steam peelers annually from a supplier. They kept getting more expensive, while the service level didn't improve. We always do our best to not hike prices too much. So, we decided to develop our own steam peeler. That was about four years ago. Thus, along with some engineers, I started accumulating a set of requirements. Then, in 2018, we started designing the TSP.''
In this way, the company also maintains more took control of their processing lines' machines' quality. 'Our customers deem reliability as vital. This machine, therefore, distinguishes itself mainly in terms of reliability and 'cost of ownership'. The lines sometimes have to run non-stop for six weeks. Say you have to take a single extra break in those weeks to replace some part. That could spell disaster for a company,'' Edwin explains.
The TSP's essential parts are stainless steel rather than regular steel. Many other steam peelers on the market have regular steel parts. ''The steel blow-off tank often shows signs of corrosion after about four weeks in a processing environment. That's no good. We, thus, manufactured that part, as well as the peeling apparatus door, from stainless steel. Stainless steel lasts longer. So these machine parts have a longer life. We've also moved away from plastic O-rings. We, and a supplier, developed an ultra-long lasting steam valve.''
All these things contribute to longer maintenance intervals. That means far less downtime during the production process. That, in turn, saves money. The machine has three models to suit any need. They can do 8, 18, or 26 tons/hour, respectively. Also, the machine can be used for both potatoes and other tubers, like carrots or celeriac.
Nowadays, energy is becoming pricier, and emissions are more important. Reduced energy usage was, thus, high on the agenda during this machine's development. ''Compared to the machine we first purchased, we use about 20% less steam for the same peeling efficiency. The peeling apparatus rotates at high speed. And the exhaust system is fast," Edwin continues.
"The peeling loss is similar to the industry standard. Peeling efficiency is vital for many clients. By using a lot of steam, you can peel perfectly. But we wanted that same efficiency while using less steam.'' The manufacturer seems to have succeeded in this. The machines are now running to the customers' complete satisfaction.
Tummers has decided to go a step further. They are going to expand their steam peeling line in an energy-saving way. ''The E2E-Condensor is a stand-alone machine. It connects to our steam peeler but also other existing steam peelers. It stands for Emission 2 Energy. The machine captures the steam peeler's blown-off steam. It then condenses it and process it into 90°C+ water. We can use this water in other parts of the process," concludes Edwin.
For more information:
Edwin Langbroek
Tummers
4 Ampèreweg
4631 SP, Hoogerheide, NL
Tel: +31 (0) 164 614 070
Website: www.tummers.nl