Brought to you by EQUANS
Smart duo: data and condensation drying
The potatoes from arable farm NIVU are getting better every year. The secret? A brand new mechanical storage warehouse where data and condensation drying technology reinforce each other.
With six cells, a spacious workshop in the middle and a footbridge over the crate storage, the new storage shed of NIVU in Oude-Tonge is an awe-inspiring appearance. But it is not only the appearance that impresses. The condensation drying installation in the storage area in particular is impressive. EQUANS' storage technology keeps 5.400 boxes of potatoes in optimum condition until July or even August.
Drying at 6,5 degrees
Jack van Vugt, one of the entrepreneurs in the NIVU partnership, shares his experiences: "The system is so advanced and has so much ventilation capacity that we can now dry as much as possible. Even under cold conditions at 6,5°C. Close after storage. we open the doors and 48 hours later the potatoes are dry."
His partner Gerard van Nieuwenhuijzen is also pleased with the new system: "The ammonia cooling-drying system works more precisely and results in constant temperatures. As a result, we have full control over the product. Where we were at 10% dehydration with our old bulk storage, we now hope to reach 5%. The potatoes remain harder and more vital, with less pressure marks and peel waste. The baking quality also remains intact due to the CO2-suction."
Valuable retention data
Just as impressive is that the potatoes in storage can be tracked down to the centimeter. From cultivation to storage and delivery. An automatic cultivation registration and an innovative track-and-trace system with tags at every box position in the floor contribute to this. "With this we know exactly which potato comes from which plot, where it will be placed during storage and when and how it leaves the storage", explains Van Nieuwenhuijzen.
Does a potato show defects? Then NIVU can immediately check whether other potatoes from that plot show the same and immediately adjust the storage conditions accordingly. "The storage data of this season will serve as valuable input for the next storage season," says Van Vugt. "We then know in what condition the potatoes went into storage, what storage conditions we offered and how the products came out of storage. With that data, we can improve product quality every storage season."
Read more about the new storage of NIVU at www.coldtechniek.nl