Family business Hof Trumann, which grows about 90 acres of potatoes in Wendland, Germany, recently installed Tomra’s Halo sorter for the sorting of unwashed, brushed potatoes. Since the installation of the equipment, there has been an increase in efficiency, turnover and quality of the end product.
“Before the installation of the machine, our potatoes were sorted manually” says Bernd Trumann, general manager of Hof Trumann. “Contrary to manual labor, a machine guarantees a consistent performance throughout the day. Therefore, I was looking for a sorting solution to ensure a consistent product quality and to provide an answer to strict quality requirements set by the packers. After a short trial period in which a testing machine was installed at our premises, it became clear to me that the Halo was the right solution for us.”
Process
The harvested potatoes are put in boxes and stored in a cool storage room. The air circulation system in this storage room ensures the potatoes are being dried within a few days so that they are ready for further processing.
“At the beginning of our processing line, we have installed a brush system” explains Trumann. “These brushes reduce the amount of soil clinging to the potatoes, thus making them brighter. This enhances the accuracy of the inspection performed by the Halo, which can easily remove green, small, halves and misshapen potatoes at a capacity of 15 tons per hour.”
Optimal Sorting
“We have determined that the Halo provides more effective sorting,” continues Trumann. “This means that employees who sort potatoes by hand remove more good potatoes compared to the Halo. For example, an employee who notices a bad potato and wants to pick it out often also removes a good potato at the same time.”
Furthermore, the installation of the Halo has reduced the personnel expenditure, explains Trumann: “One single person is now able to run the entire line, where in the past five people were required. According to our calculations, we are able to save about 1,800 working hours per year due to the installation of the Halo.”
Benefits
Trumann explains that his decision to buy a Halo was based on two criteria: space requirements and user-friendliness. “We decided to buy a Halo because the machine is very compact compared to other similar sorting machines on the market. Due to its small footprint, the machine fit the room we had available and could be easily integrated in our line. A further benefit is the user-friendliness; depending on the incoming defect level, I can easily modify the sorting parameters myself so that no further post-sorting is required.”
Since Installation
Since the installation, the machine has run flawlessly, and even when there is a small problem, the service department from Tomra is available at all times. “The support is excellent and this is very important for me,” says Trumann. “At all times I can reach a technician and a quick solution is always at hand.”