TOMRA recently presented a new steam peeler specifically targeted at these market shifts. "TOMRA has several steam peelers with different specifications, performances and prices. The Odyssey is the newest steam peeler, which we developed primarily for fruit and vegetable processing companies in emerging economies," says Eamonn.
Steam peeled apples.
Emerging economies
Historically, the main markets for steam peelers were located in Europe and North America. "We now see that countries in Latin America, Asia, Eastern Europe and even Africa seek to invest in the machines. In these countries the demand for steam peelers grows, and what is striking is that most of these companies produce for the domestic market in order to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, but some also produce for export."
TOMRA is not the only one to closely monitor developments in the market. In recent years the industry has seen increased competition in steam peelers. "We have been in this market for about forty years. So we have a lot of experience, and even developed some proprietary techniques. Today we see many companies that bring steam peelers on the market."
TOMRA's steam peeler called Odyssey.
Typically, peeling fruit still involves knives or chemicals. "For example, peaches, apples and mangoes are peeled chemically in most cases," says Eamonn. "Currently customers increase their production volumes because of increasing demand. They consider steam peeling as the solution to peel increased volumes efficiently with less waste." Steam peeling is not new for TOMRA: "Our first steam peeler for fruit was installed fifteen years ago in Hawaii. Because there is a growing demand for steam peelers for a wide variety of products, we have adapted our product range."
Fruit peeler
"In our laboratory in Ireland, we have done a lot of research and tests on AGF. On this basis, we developed the Odyssey, our latest steam peeler. This can also peel fruit. For many companies, this feature will lead to substantial savings in production costs."
Steam peeled peppers.
Steaming time and maturity
"The steam peeling technique for fruits is similar to that of vegetables. What you want to achieve is that the steam only heats the outer few millimeters of an apple or a mango, thereby removing the peel." However, the nature, size and maturity of the fruit must be taken into account. To achieve optimum results, the cooking time should be kept as short as possible. "A longer time means that the fruit is cooked more, and that can be a problem since you only want the surface to be heated. The steam peeling process will not affect the quality of the product."
In order to determine the ripeness, the hardness of a fruit is measured. On the basis of this information, TOMRA has established a number of parameters. "Different varieties are examined in the research. For example, there are different varieties of papaya, mango and apple in Europe, India, Africa and South America. For these products, we have done a study of the ideal conditions." With each machine, TOMRA provides data for ideal steam conditions for various products. "We frequently invite our customers to our test center. That way, they can find out themselves what the best peeling option is. TOMRA seeks to provide a solution tailored to the customer."
More information:
TOMRA
Eamonn Cullen
Eamonn.Cullen@tomra.com