Miscellaneous Washing Equipment
Basket Washer handles fresh-cut produce.
Press Release Summary:
Featuring sanitary tank that holds 145 gal of water, semi-automatic Basket Wash is suited for small to medium-large processors handling up to 3,300 lb of produce/hr. Closed-loop water system recycles and filters water, flushing baskets of produce with up to 175 gal of water/min, removing debris and minimizing bacteria content. Wash cycle time can be adjusted via Allen-Bradley controller. Basket is sized for safe lifting weights of no more than 30 lb.
Original Press Release:
Key Technology Introduces Redesigned Basket Wash for Fresh-Cut Produce
March 10, 2009 - Key Technology introduces the redesigned Basket Wash for fresh-cut produce. Featuring a new sanitary tank that holds 550 liters (145 gallons) of water, Key's Basket Wash is one of the smallest semi-automatic fresh-cut produce washers on the market, making it ideal for small to medium-large processors handling up to 1500 kg (3300 lb) per hour. With its new pass-through configuration, larger pump and motor, and Allen-Bradley controls, Key's new Basket Wash is versatile, reliable, and easy to operate, as well as sanitary and cost effective.
Key's redesigned Basket Wash offers a convenient and flexible solution for washing a variety of fresh-cut produce such as whole, sliced, and diced vegetables, including carrots, onions, peppers, shredded, chopped and whole leaf lettuce, cabbage, baby spinach, and spring mix, as well as whole and cut fruits, and herbs. Appropriate for low-to-high-care facilities, the Basket Wash can be used as a pre-wash, rinse, main wash, or final wash.
To maximize sanitation and minimize processor's capital costs, Key redesigned the stainless steel tank with smooth, sloped sides that effortlessly collect sediment and allow for easy cleaning. Processors can pump chilled water to the washer or use ambient-temperature water to wash.
Compact and versatile, the new Basket Wash allows loading and unloading from either end to optimize line flow and labor utilization. If needed, a processor can use the Basket Wash to transition product from the low-care side of the plant to the high-care side. Operators can wash one or two baskets and drain one or two baskets at time. During the wash cycle, product is submersed in water and simultaneously showered with low-pressure, high-volume water to remove debris and reduce bacteria content.
Designed to minimize floor space, the dual-basket wash is only 1861 mm (73 inches) long and 2022 mm (80 inches) wide. It is designed to encourage correct loading and unloading with height-adjustable supports and an ergonomic basket lift height and reach. The basket is sized for safe lifting weights of no more than 13.6 kg (30 lbs).
Featuring a closed loop water system that recycles and filters water, the Basket Wash flushes baskets of produce with up to 664 liters (175 gallons) of water per minute. The water pressure can be easily adjusted via a butterfly valve to reduce pressure for delicate products or increase pressure for dirty products. The wash cycle time can be quickly adjusted via the Allen-Bradley controller. Product changeovers that require a change in water pressure and wash cycle time can be achieved in less than 30 seconds.
Key's Basket Wash uses the same 44 liter (11.6 gallon) basket as Key's popular Compact Dryer, enabling product to be easily moved from the washer to the dryer without transferring it from one basket to another. Together, Key's Basket Wash, Compact Dryer, and AVSealer Packaging Machine provide a complete, semi-automated fresh-cut processing and packaging solution ideal for small to medium-large processors.
"Key is committed to serving the fresh-cut industry worldwide, from the smallest processors looking for semi-automated equipment to the largest processors looking for fully-automated high speed technology," noted Teri Johnson, Fresh-Cut Industry Manager at Key Technology. "Redesigning our popular Basket Wash is a part of our ongoing effort to help fresh-cut produce processors of all sizes enhance their product quality and food safety while improving their operating efficiencies and cutting costs."
The redesigned, CE-marked and UL-certified Basket Wash is a standard product from Key, offering a great value-to-price ratio and quick delivery. It is backed by a one year limited warranty. Spare parts and aftermarket support are available worldwide from Key's extensive sales and service organization.
About Key Technology, Inc.
Key Technology, an ISO-9001 certified company, is a leading designer and manufacturer of process automation systems, integrated electro-optical inspection and sorting systems, and processing systems. Key® systems help processors to improve quality, increase yield, and reduce cost. With worldwide sales representation, the company maintains demonstration and testing facilities at its headquarters and manufacturing divisions in Walla Walla, Washington, USA, and at Key Technology BV in Beusichem, the Netherlands. The company's common stock trades on the Global Market tier of The NASDAQ Stock MarketSM under the symbol: KTEC.
Reader Inquiries To:
Anita Funk, Corporate Communications Manager
Key Technology, Inc.
150 Avery Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362 USA
Tel: 509 529 2161
Fax: 509 527 1331
Email: afunk@key.net
URL: www.key.net
