Since Astra, a Japanese innovative peeler manufacturer, began introducing its peelers overseas just a few years ago, its pineapple peeler KA-750PM models have quickly gained the trust of businesses in over 60 countries. Just this week, the company started to sell its newly developed pineapple coring tool, designed for efficiently removing the core of the pineapple, in combination with its peeler. Ryo Takeshita, the sales manager at Astra, introduced the company's forthcoming launch of the pineapple corer.
Driven by clients' request
Ryo first explained that the idea for the new coring tool came from customer feedback. "Since the launch of our pineapple peeler, we received many inquiries from businesses asking for a solution to remove the core along with peeling the fruit," Ryo said. In response to these growing needs, Astra began developing the coring tool in the summer of 2024. Now, just a few months later, the tool is available to customers.
Despite the recent release, the coring tool has already garnered attention. "We demonstrated the model at two major international exhibitions in the past few months: Fruit Attraction and IFPA. Right after the exhibitions, we already sold 5-10 units. We are also following up with these customers and are eager to hear their usage feedback."
"Simple usage is key"
"We want to make this coring tool as easy to use as possible. After peeling the pineapple, you just move the attachment into place and press down. That's it." While the De-Coring attachment is not fully automated, Ryo emphasized that it is a highly effective solution. "Sometimes, manual operations like this are more efficient than fully automated machines," he added.
Although the tool looks simple and easy to operate, the real innovation lies in the way the tool functions. "As the pineapple rotates, the coring tool easily sinks into the fruit without requiring excessive force. This design reduces strain on the operator, as the tool's own weight allows it to press into the pineapple with minimal effort. In contrast, many similar coring tools in the market require workers to exert considerable pressure, which can be tough on both the worker and the tool. The difference might seem small in words, but once you experience the smooth motion of the ASTRA De-Corer, other tools may feel slow and cumbersome," Ryo explained.
"When used alone, our pineapple peeler can peel between 200 and 250 pineapples per hour. The new corer can core a single pineapple in just 4-5 seconds. When both the peeler and corer are used in combination, the processing speed jumps to an impressive 150-180 pineapples per hour, a substantial increase in efficiency for businesses dealing with large volumes of pineapples.
Commitment to innovation
Astra's dedication to innovation is central to its success. "Our focus is on continually enhancing machine performance by making them lighter, smaller, and more efficient," Ryo said proudly. The company is also committed to refining existing models and developing new attachments to improve the peeler's versatility. For example, they've created desk-mounting sets and protective curtains to prevent the peel from spreading.
Astra's customers span a wide range of industries, including fruit processing companies, hospitals, school cafeterias, pastry manufacturers, and distilleries. "With the launch of the corer, we hope to expand our customer base even further and provide more efficient, upscaled peeling combinations to the market."
Read more about Astra KA-750PM pineapple peeler
For more information:
Mr. Ryo Takeshita
ASTRA Inc.
Tel.: +81 0245412444
Email: [email protected]
https://en.e-astra.co.jp/