We’ve been noticing an upward tick in whole peeled onion demand, and with that comes the demand for equipment to fulfill product orders. So we turned to Mike McKnight with Automated Produce Equipment, https://automatedproduceequip.com/ for an update on the CMI onion peeler that is available from his company.
The convenience of whole peeled onions is obvious, and Mike said the peeler provides fresh-cut facilities with both efficiency and reduced labor costs. He noted, “Fresh cut facilities are always looking for ways to reduce labor and increase production. There is also the safety aspect of these types of machines. The CMI peeler tops and tails the onion before removing the skin. The less interaction from workers wielding knives the better.”
Moreover, he added, the CMI peeler has an added benefit logistically. “Automated Produce Equipment is always looking for new lines which help reduce labor cost and increase production,” Mike said.
“First and foremost, it is manufactured in Minnesota. Having a peeler made domestically reduces shipping time and cost. Parts availability and service logistics are minimized for customers considering an onion peeler for North America,” he noted.
And as whole peeled onions continue to see good demand, Mike said the CMI onion peeler is a good option in the nation’s onion-growing regions.
“Onions seem to be holding their own,” he commented earlier in March. “The thing to remember about new equipment is to preplan and take into consideration lead time and schedules.”
Mike continued, “Any area such as the Midwest down to Texas and the Northeast where onions are grown and processed is a candidate for an onion peeler.” He added the machine is designed to peel fresh and storage onions, explaining, “There’s no difference in the onions. The machine can compensate for different thicknesses of the skin.”
The onion peeler is designed to trim and peel onions quickly and efficiently. A specially designed belt transfers them through a waterless process resulting in clean, peeled onions with minimum waste.
Onions are transferred over the scoring blades by a paddle belt, then discharged into a bin. The operator places and orients the onions on the belt, which carries them through the topping and tailing process. The onions drop off the belt into an air tunnel that removes the outer skins, which are discarded as waste. An auger assists the onions onto a chute, releasing them for the next step.
The peeler also features variable speed controls, circular notched blades, easy-access gauges, a centralized control system, and a skid-resistant platform.
For more information contact Mike McKnight at 678-383-4566.
