Request TOMRA's peeling solutions trial

When processing lines peel vegetables, they leave vast amounts of food waste, and this means financial losses.

Food waste can reach 20% with low-tech steam peelers, and 30% during mechanical peeling – and much of this lost revenue could be prevented.

Rather than ignoring this, processors can improve it. Instead of using outdated technologies or buying low-cost peelers, they can significantly reduce waste by upgrading to more effective solutions. There are four reasons to do this.

The first reason is that many vegetable processing lines installed worldwide are now 20 - 30 years old. They need to update, and this is the perfect time to install more reliable and efficient machinery.

The second reason is that vegetable processing has changed with time. More big companies are now taking part in the industry, and more are responding to the increasing demand for peeled vegetables for ready-to-eat products. This resulted in increased volumes and varieties of the vegetables that the lines handle. While low-volume processing lines could operate only for a few months a year during the harvesting of one type of veg, large- and medium-volume lines handle multiple varieties any time of the year.

The next reason is that peeling technologies have significantly developed. It’s still true that mechanical peelers are wasteful and lower-tech steam peelers are neither efficient. However, the more advanced steam peelers are something different. Technical innovations have improved peeling efficiency, operating speed, energy use, controllability, and safety. Peeling quality is better, uniformity higher, and food waste lower than 6.5 - 10%. On some lines, this prevents the loss of an estimated 1,000 kilos of the raw material per hour. That’s an approximate saving of €200.000 annually.

And, finally, the fourth reason. Seeking to minimize food waste shows a commitment to sustainability. Since the global population is growing so quickly, food production will also rise by 70% by 2050, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). 

However, the food industry already accounts for about 22% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and 30% of total energy consumption. Moreover, 14% of food produced is lost between harvest and retail. Considering this, consumers increasingly expect food companies to adopt sustainable practices, as well as food retailers expect the same from suppliers.

Here comes TOMRA Food

TOMRA Food is known for its optical sorting and grading technologies. The effectiveness of TOMRA’s machines results from the company’s ongoing investment in development and research, and decades of experience working with processors to better understand operational challenges.

Over 500 TOMRA steam peelers for potatoes, carrots, beetroots, kohlrabi, butternut squash, parsnip, pumpkin, and root celery are currently installed worldwide. The versatility of TOMRA’s sorters and steam-peelers enables processors to peel all these products in the same factory or even on the same line. These machines are designed to be easy to clean to help to prevent cross-contamination and switch easily from one variety to another.

Peeler performance depends on design

Peeler performance is another key to greater yields. High performance is provided by peeling at high steam pressure for a short time. Low-tech steam peelers cannot do this: steam can only be provided to their thin-walled vessels at low pressure, and the product has to be steamed for up to 100 seconds. This wastes more than double of raw material as the high-tech steam peelers and consumes more water and energy.

TOMRA offers three steam peeler models: the Orbit, the Odyssey, and the Eco. Since 2020, each of them has been fitted with fully automated control programs, making it simple to switch between different types of vegetables, optimizing process efficiency and yield. But each of these machines is different, in capabilities, purpose, and price.

The Orbit steam peeler is ideal for vegetable processors. It is efficient at processing small red beets and potatoes, baby carrots or large vegetables such as pumpkin, root celery, and butternut squash.

The Odyssey steam peeler is destined for those who have a smaller budget for investing in equipment. Its longer pressure vessel is perfect for larger vegetables. A large steam pipe provides steam delivery and quick extraction, while mixing-and-lifting plates inside the vessel guarantee that as the vessel rotates at high speed, the veggies are continuously moved for even steam exposure.

The Eco steam peeler is equipped with innovative automation software to achieve similar throughput capacities with a smaller vessel and optimize steam usage. It is mainly destined for peeling potatoes, but its smart design – the extra-large steam pipe, round vessel, and high rotation speed – also work well with red beets or carrots. 

Post-peeling processes can minimize waste

TOMRA also has developed post-peeling equipment for small and large vegetables for low and high capacities, in order to take care of dry peel separation and washing. 

The TOMRA 8/30 Brusher has unique features for wet peel separation, dry peel separation, washing, quick and easy cleaning to eliminate sources of cross-contamination, and for easy switching to different vegetables. 

The TOMRA Barrel Washer gently handles vegetables, leaving product damage during washing in the past.

Those who wish to trial TOMRA’s peeling solutions with examples of their own produce, the company offers online demonstrations. Schedule your trial by sending an email.