Making Fruit Snack Production More Efficient with Our AutoJet F2850+ Modular Heated Food System
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PROBLEM
A British OEM machine builder of extrusion lines used for fruit snack production reached out to us with a certain issue they were experiencing during their production process.
The fruit is put onto 24 ropes or lanes, spread across a working width of 1055mm with the product moving at 2 to 3 meter per minute. This with a total application rate of 1 litre per hour across the 24 lanes.
Three of our VAU spray guns were the previous used method to apply the non stick wax onto the extruded fruit across the lanes. After re-evaluating, it was clear that this method created a vast amount of mist which resulted in an inconsistent coverage of the fruit snack. This also created slip hazards and required excessive cleaning of the spray application area.
By replacing the previously used method and re-evaluating the situation and new needs of our customer, the goal was to at least reduce or resolve the misting issue and give a more uniform coverage of the wax onto the product.
SOLUTION
By choosing Spraying Systems Co.®, our customer partnered with a trusted global expert with more than 85 years of experience in spray technology innovation.
Working closely with the customer, our spray experts engineered a solution tailored to upgrading their existing spray method. The result was the F2850+ modular heated food system, combined with a 24-gun semi-heated JJAU header, an ideal configuration for this application.
With Precision Spray Control (PSC) and the closed-loop flow control of the F2850+ controller, the system applies the exact amount of stick wax at precisely the right moment, ensuring consistent performance without process interruptions.
The system is completed with 24 PulsaJet® spray guns mounted on the semi-heated JJAU header, enabling uniform application of non-stick wax across all product lanes. Previously, the wax was applied at ambient temperature. The semi-heated header now maintains optimal temperature throughout the process, ensuring stable viscosity and consistent spray quality.
RESULTS
The customer was quickly convinced of the upgrade of their existing spray method we offered.
To determine and validate the suggested solution, and to confirm this would be the best fit, we carried out a spray test at our Droitwich test lab. Here we are able to establish the required coverage and application rates necessary.
Ultimately, after installation of the F2850+ modular heated food system, the customer sees less air consumption and less wax used. Thanks to the precision spray, there is less rejected product and the cleaning time is reduced.
These improvements not only deliver significant cost savings for our customer, but also promote a more sustainable and efficient production process.
Your process could be next! Reach out to see what precision spraying can do for you.