The Belgian company VOStechnics is specialised in fruit cooling, ULO storing and industrial cooling.Development of the new hydrocooler was started in 2012. This installation wasintended to cool cherries and enable a longer shelf life. Generally, cherriesare picked, sorted and then cooled for heading out to the shop. However, inwarm weather cherries reach a high temperature very quickly. The VOS technicshydrocooler is an installation which cools the cherries before sorting. Thismeans the cherries don't just look nicer and tighter, they can also be stored forthree weeks longer.
Uniquedevelopment
Kristof Onckelinx, director of VOS technics, indicates that this development isunique. "The low maintenance of the machine is new. The results arealready astounding. Our 2012 prototype taught us how to build an installationwhich has reached theoretical literature worthiness.
This is unheard of! To beable to store the cherries for a long time, it is important to lower the coretemperature to 4 degrees or less as soon as possible," he explains."The fruit grower puts his cherries on the hydrocooler transport band. This sprays ice water over the cherries and brings the core temperature down to 4 degrees in less than 10 minutes. Other installations can't get the core temperature under 10 degrees. This is six crucial degrees which make a world of difference for the fruit grower. The system also means that the consumer can buy cherries in the shop for three weeks longer."
First in Belgium
"Many attempts have been made to develop a similar installation, but VOS technics is the first company in Belgium which has successfully supplied such an installation," according to Maarten Onckelinx, VOS technics service manager.
"Many attempts have been made to develop a similar installation, but VOS technics is the first company in Belgium which has successfully supplied such an installation," according to Maarten Onckelinx, VOS technics service manager.
Enthusiastic
The first appliance was started by the experimental garden PC Fruit in Velm and the second appliance, foreseen of a larger capacity, was being used at Sweet Fruit Torsin in Halle Booienhoven. According to Kristof, growers and traders are very enthusiastic. "It makes sorting a lot easier. The transport and shelf life isn't a problem and has been extended by weeks. This was proven last year. Picking can continue in the weekend, when the auction is closed." "It's enough for some to cool 100 kg of cherries per hour. We foresee other types of installations that can cool 2 tonnes of cherries per hour. We can connect the hydrocooler to an existing cooling installation or supply it mobile. Anything is possible and we always have a sublime final result with every hydrocooler," emphasises Kristof Onckelinx.
For more information:
VOS technics
Industrieweg 1150
3540 Herk-de-stad - Belgium
Tel. +32 13 355 930
Fax +32 13 553 048
[email protected]
www.vos-technics.be
