Potato Review

44 POTATO REVIEW NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 MACHINERY Cleanloader can keep intake line running GRIMME’s Cleanloader is being recommended as a solution for maintaining output in situations where factory shutdowns might normally be required, having been successfully used during the installation of new washing and grading machinery by a swede producer. Stewarts of Tayside could not a ord to close down for the new system to be installed because of the heightened demand for fresh produce caused by COVID-19. Haith, which entered into an alliance with GRIMME in April cross-selling machines and working together to deliver integrated handling and service solutions, developed a three-phase installation, which allowed Stewarts to remain operational throughout the upgrade. Built around GRIMMES’s RH24-60 self- emptying receiving hopper, the CleanLoader is road legal and requires no external power source to operate thanks to an on-board engine. It automatically feeds onto twin coil units to ensure even and constant crop ow. e rst set of coils provide intense soil separation, while the second coil unit can be used either for additional separation or pre-grading of the crop depending upon conditions. e CleanLoader can be used by potato producers to handle up to 120 tonnes per hour depending on the soil type and conditions and features GRIMME’s popular VC50 control unit, that provides full touch screen control of all major hydraulic and electric functions. Sales Director at Haith, Duane Hill, said: “ e pandemic has seen demand for fresh produce go through the roof and Stewarts of Tayside is incredibly busy, whichmeant we had to work in a slightly di erent way. We developed a three-phase installation, whichwill allow Stewarts to remain operational throughout the upgrade. e rst phase was the removal of the intake line. Due to our close working relationshipwith GRIMME, we were able to arrange for a Cleanloader to be used.” He said the intake line remained operational and the Cleanloader was up and running in under an hour of arriving at the site. Barrel washer in high demand TONG’S next generation stainless steel barrel washer has made record sales throughout 2020. Sales of the machines have been boosted in the UK and export markets by an increase in orders for the new, advanced design launched early last year according to the company’s MD Edward Tong. Its design has been enhanced with several advanced features as standard including a new direct-drive, inverter-controlled barrel drive shaft with heavy duty coupling. A snapshot of the Tong factory currently sees ve Tong barrel washers at di erent stages in the nal assembly process. Machines currently in production vary in size and speci cation and are destined for fresh pack businesses in the UK as well as France, China and Italy. “We have been working on some very advanced vegetable washing projects with some of the world’s largest vegetable producers, as well as small, specialist root crop growers,” said Edward. Advanced features such as heavy-duty direct-driven auger with side scraper chain system which can be built with fully automatic control and sequencing, as well as a newly-designed oating debris remover and integrated destoner have proved very popular, Edward said. Manufactured in barrel lengths ranging from 1.2m – 5m and barrel widths from 600mm – 1500mm, the Tong Barrel Washer can be specified as a stand-alone unit or integrated into a new or existing handling line.