The tna intelli-flav 5 seasoning system delivers coverage and flavoring of its potato chip brand Hardbite Chips.
British Columbia, Canada
Kirk Homenick, president, Naturally Homegrown Foods, told BakeryandSnacks, the equipment has made such a difference compared to the older screw auger feature on its previous system, it has reduced its seasoning application rate from 8-9% to 5-6%.
“As a small plant experiencing growth, it’s imperative seasoning changeovers and cleaning downtime is kept to a minimum. Since the tna intelli-flav 5 was installed, changeover times have been reduced by 15-20% thanks to the system’s simple design,” he said.
Naturally Homegrown Foods is based in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada, and specializes in the production of batch-fried chips for retail shops in Canada, the US and Asia.
Vibratory weigher to control powder application
To meet growing demand, the company needed a flexible seasoning drum for the application of eight dry seasonings. The machine also had to be integrated with other processing machinery.
The tna intelli-flav 5 features a vibratory weigher to control powder application from the drum. This means an accurate, proportional amount of seasoning can be applied to the product for improved coverage and flavor dispersion, even for products with irregular surfaces, including batch-fried chips.
Benefits include the positioning of the scarfplate on the machine infeed which is closer to the top of the tumbling product and a scallop-designed infeed conveyor with curves that match the shape of the drum, which reduces product drop.
According to Teri Johnson, regional sales manager, tna, rapidly changing consumer demands have increased pressure on snack manufacturers to run a variety of capacities, package sizes and materials within their plant.
“Food manufacturers are increasingly looking for more flexibility in their existing production lines to customize their offering and respond to shifts in consumer demand and preferences,” she said.
The tna intelli-flav 5 is enclosed to prevent seasoning, dirt and other materials from building up. It also comes with a pivoting drum for hard to reach areas.