Revolutionizing Fruit Ripening: Interko’s Ultimo Chambers Achieve 20% Energy Reduction

Interko, headquartered in the Netherlands, specializes in the design, manufacture, and installation of cutting-edge ripening rooms for fresh fruit. The company recently announced a further 20 percent reduction in energy consumption for its flagship Ultimo chambers, achieved with the introduction of the second generation of its innovative reversible fans, Reverso.

The Ultimo design and technology have also been enhanced to facilitate pre-cooling of fruit. Interko plans to implement additional improvements later in 2024 as it solidifies its position as a leader in providing the most advanced, high-quality, and cost-effective fruit ripening solutions.

What Makes Ultimo Different?

Ultimo has established itself as the premier ripening solution for bananas, avocados, and mangos.

The standout feature of Ultimo is its innovative airflow system, which ensures that large volumes of fruit reach the desired ripeness level uniformly. The chamber is versatile, available in one, two, or three-level configurations, and can accommodate various pallet sizes, making it suitable for both small and large operators around the globe.

Chris Maat, Interko’s Managing Director/Partner, explains:

“The unique design of Ultimo, which incorporates a Reverso fan for every pair of pallets, generates a consistent airflow that moves laterally through the room rather than longitudinally".

Maat continues:

“This design guarantees that all fruit ripens evenly throughout the chamber and minimizes air loss. By reducing the amount of free air inside the enclosure, we can better control the ripening environment while also lowering energy consumption".

Maat adds:

“Our customers, including Fyffes, have expressed that they see no other ripening chamber that can compete with Ultimo. Ninety-nine percent of our competitors rely on longitudinal airflow in their ripening rooms, which leads to a substantial difference in performance.”

About Interko

Interko is the global leader for the design, manufacture, and installation of cost-effective, high-quality, and low-maintenance ripening rooms for fresh fruit, and cooling systems for the horticulture sector. Founded over 50 years ago in the Netherlands, Interko develops precise, advanced, and energy-efficient systems that are built to last. Since its creation, Interko has installed over 7,000 ripening rooms for bananas, avocados, mangoes, papayas, and tomatoes – the earliest of which are still in operation and performing well today. Every year Interko installs around 200 ripening rooms.

For more information, visit: www.interko.com