A new generation of vegetable brush polishers, being introduced by Tong Peal through an alliance with a leading Spanish manufacturer, is set to bring major gains to the potato industry.
Brush polishers have become widely used to improve the cleaning of carrots, parsnips and some other root vegetables, achieving a bright finish with enhanced eye appeal in the retail store.
Tong Peal believe that their latest introduction — reducing the initial cost of brush polishers by up to 25 per cent and low cost maintenance — will bring similar benefits to the preparation of potatoes for the supermarket.
"This is a new concept for the potato trade and we believe it will have considerable appeal," says Barry Ledger, sales manager of Tong Peal. "Not only does the polishing provide an attractive finish, it also prolongs the shelf life of the product — a win-win situation for the supermarket and the packer."
The new brush polishers are made by Martin Maq (in conjuction with Tong Engineering), one of Spain's leading manufacturers of vegetable handling equipment specialising in the design of new technology machinery.
The technique is quite different from the conventional barrel type polisher which rotates as vegetables pass through the drum. With the New Generation Polisher, the brushes are located in a 'U' formation which oscillates. Each rocking motion turns the crop over to give full contact with the revolving brushes. The whole effect creates a 'rock'n'roll' type action.
"With a conventional washer only the produce in the bottom half of the barrel is cleaned and polished and so the top section of brushes are not in contact with the crop," adds Mr Ledger. "Our Spanish partners have developed a more efficient means of polishing which has less brushes meaning fewer working parts, a much simpler drive mechanism and therefore less maintenance costs,"
The New Generation Polisher is available initially as three-metre length model with ten brushes, capable of handling up to 10 tonnes /hour, and is all stainless steel construction.
Interest in the new technique has already seen sales in Spain and Israel, and demonstrations are being arranged in the UK main vegetable growing regions starting next month. Further details will be announced shortly.
