Improved version of the WYMA Vege-Polisher

WYMA designs, manufactures, distributes and services post-harvest vegetable handling equipment and solutions worldwide, with solutions for potatoes, carrots, onions or other bulk vegetables. The dry, wash and pre-pack lines are designed in conjunction with the client, in a consultative way, to ensure effective and long term solutions.  During Fruit Logistica 2017 Wyma presented an improved version of the Vege-Polisher, the Vege-Polisher™ (V4 Series),“a journey that began in 1994 with a simple need to lighten the manual workload of a local potato farmer. The search for improvements has never ceased.” The Wyma Vege-Polisher™ offers smart and automated operation, controllable via a touch screen. Remote control via smart phones, tablets or desktop is possible.   The automation software provides drive load feedback, with the user able to set their own optimal torque settings to maintain a consistent level of polish. Favourite settings can be saved for a variety of produce types and conditions for quick touch-of-a-button changeover between produce batches. Other automation aspects include data logging (running hours, water usage etc...), service and cleaning reminders, automatic brush reversal and rinse cycles to prolong the life of the bristles, and connectivity to Wyma After-Sales for online service and technical assistance. The side doors and drive guards have been completely re-designed to provide full access without the need for tools, reducing cleaning and maintenance time. The side doors are two-leafed folding doors, hinged horizontally. They provide unobstructed access along the full length of the drum and brush shafts. The doors are dual-dependent and rise and lower vertically. They have a 180 degree positioning angle, giving complete access to the door’s internal surface area for cleaning. They also have a unique slam guard mechanism which ensures the doors stay in any open position they are left in. At the in-feed and out-feed ends, the end guards are on hinged cantilevers to provide quick and easy access for maintenance without the need for tools. The top end guard lifts vertically while the two side guards open out and can be folded back against the side of the machine to minimise obstruction. The R&D team took a strong look at hygiene improvements, with the objectives of ensuring food safety and facilitating maintenance and cleaning tasks. One of the main features is a partitioned wash zone around the brushes, isolating the drive, belt and electrical zones. This partitioned wash zone reduces the amount of waste at out-feed and in-feed ends, and minimises waste and water from penetrating into the drive and electrical areas. The side doors have been re-shaped to remove catch points and other risks for waste accumulation. Consequently, the inside of the wash zone can be easily washed down and debris is guided to the catchment tray or recycle base underneath the machine. The spray bars are now positioned external to the drum to minimise debris accumulation both on and inside the spray bars. There are two fresh water nozzles at the out-feed end to provide a final rinse of the produce prior to further processing. Soak nozzle is placed at in-feed to provide extra water lubrication and remove excess soil on entry. The Wyma Vege-Polisher™ can considerably improve the appearance of your fresh vegetables, resulting in a greater percentage of packed premium produce and an increased presence on retailers’ shelves. Both the rotary brush barrel technology and the specific brush design combine to ensure the vegetables are washed and polished to the highest retailing standards. Other equipment highlighted during Fruit Logistica 2017 was Wyma Wet Hopper, Wyma Lift Roller Sizer, Wyma Mega-Polisher™, Wyma Barrel Washer, and the Wyma Hydro-cooler, Wyma Absorbent Drying Rollers, Wyma Pumpkin Brusher, and Wyma Hedgehog. The picture shows (left) John Roest, Australian Sales Manager, and Ian Serra, Territory Manager Australia, in front of the Vege-Polisher™ V4 Series in WYMA´s Fruit Logistica 2017 booth