In the world of fruit processing, efficiency and versatility are key. Astra has introduced the "Peel-A-Ton's Grapefruit/Pomelo Mode" to its KA-750PM series, which designed to solve the difficult task of peeling thick citrus skins. Ryo Takeshita, the sales manager at Astra, introduced the new model.
Video link: https://youtu.be/kgiyLVMkkxM?si=oAnNOsRAGxLvz6ZA
Inspired by clients' requests
Ryo first shared the story of how the grapefruit/pomelo peeler was developed. "Peeling large citrus fruits has always been a difficult task. To avoid a bitter taste, no pith can be left on the fruit. For retail or industrial processes that require a large volume of peeling in a short time, the 'round peeler' is often used. However, the ordinally 'round peeler' has many problems. It digs the fruit too deep, which connects to juice dripping. If you wish to prevent this from happening, you need to peel two times. You need to lose quality or lose time."
"We have heard such complaints from our existing customers who use other peelers for different fruits. These requests inspired us to test our 'blade-type' peelers on large citrus fruits with thick skins to achieve smooth, uninterrupted peeling. However, our existing blades were unable to peel such thick skin. For this project, we needed to use our knowledge and experience to develop several kinds of blades." says Ryo.
A set of settings for different needs
"Our new grapefruit/pomelo peeler has similarities to manual peeling. The blade is straight, sharp and thin. When rotating, the blade moves in a polygonal fashion, always pressing firmly against the surface of the fruit, making the peel surface smooth and attractive," Ryo explains. "It can be used on all citrus fruits from 10 cm to 18 cm in height and up to 20 cm in diameter."
"Another unique feature is that most peelers on the market require two attachment points, meaning that both the top and bottom of the fruit are held by the peeler. Remarkably, our peeler only requires one side to be attached to the machine. Less damage to the surface of the fruit results in less dripping and the fruit remains more intact".
In the new model, ASTRA has developed a range of features to meet the different needs of peeling large citrus fruits. The GF-1 is for peeling citrus fruits with extra thick skins, such as pomelos. The GF-2 is for peeling small citrus fruits with thick skin, such as grapefruit. The MG-4 is for making zest from the citrus skin. "The peeler is pre-programmed; all the user has to do is place the fruit on the peeler, select a program and press start. The peeling speed can be up to 8 seconds per fruit. With an adjustable peeling depth, the blade can handle fruit skins from 'paper thin' to 'cardboard thick'," Ryo explains.
Numerous patents and three decades of experience
"Blade peeling is not as easy as it sounds," Ryo said. "Blade quality and peeling movement are the two most important factors that define a 'good peeler.' Not only the physical design, such as the length, width, and shape of the peeler, but the material also plays an important role. To obtain the best blade quality, we used the top material for the blade, and the metal used for some blades can only be produced in Japan. Besides, to achieve superior peeling movement, we performed countless tests on the blade's moving route, peeling angle, and rotation speed control. Peeling seems like a simple task, but all these elements need to be balanced and interact with each other."
The company faces attempts by competitors to copy their 'blade-type' peeler. "But this has little effect on us. These companies can only imitate the look, not the peeling quality. Our numerous international patents and three decades of experience in peeling technology are not something that can be easily copied," Ryo said.
"Our focus is on continually enhancing machine performance by making them lighter, smaller, and more efficient. Alongside refining existing models, we're actively developing new ones tailored to different fruit types. Drawing inspiration from interactions with clients and visitors at exhibitions, we've embarked on exploring diverse product possibilities to leverage the peeler's versatility."
For more information:
Mr. Ryo Takeshita
ASTRA Inc.
Tel.: +81 0245412444
Email: [email protected]
https://en.e-astra.co.jp/