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FOOD PROCESSING GREEN HOUSES

plete overhaul of the die washing ma- tima works closely together with a variety
chines and the new penne cutting unit, of capsule manufacturers to provide solu- GREENHOUSE GROWING - HIGH REWARDS
RotoPennaut. Die washing machines now tions. At Host, Optima will provide more
deliver increased washing and water re- information on this and answer any other FROM HIGH-CLASS CROP NUTRITION
cycling efficiency. The updated RotoPen- questions.
naut design combines the flexibility of Optima and Manes share a proven
the standard Pennaut with the needs of partnership going back over many years. Omex Agrifluids specialises in the
modern pasta plants by reducing main- When brought together, the skills of both manufacture and marketing of high qual-
tenance and cleaning times. companies make for highly efficient pro- ity plant nutrients formulated in high-end
Circle 25 on enquiry card delivery systems, both soluble liquids
and soluble powders, for application
Better Flavor, Better DR. TERRY MABBETT by foliar spraying (foliar feeding). Peter
Pavan Pennaut: cutting system Prentis’ remit and responsibility covers
for penne, with inclined knife Efficiency Rewards from greenhouse crops are research, development and marketing of
(Photo Pavan/GEA) potentially high but are only realised the full range of Omex soluble nutrient
OPTIMA at Host 2019 if nutrient inputs match the needs of products across Europe, the Middle East
Montoni technology at the top Optima will be exhibiting alongside crops grown in controlled environments. and Asia.
Closed conditions and ‘closeted crops’
of the industry Manes Macchine s.r.l., a company it cessing of ground coffee that protects inside greenhouses are completely in- Newly-germinated cucumber plants
the aroma and the product. Manes makes
has been cooperating with for many
The strong focus on quality has made years. The technical solutions for cof- use of gas supply systems for transporta- dependent of what goes on outside, with seed coats still attached to the
Montoni technology extremely success- fee that they provide cover everything tion so that the aromas of the coffee are whether low light and temperature in cotyledon leaves (Picture Dr Terry
ful over the years. “Our products are from aroma-optimized, efficient pro- fully retained all the way to the product cool temperate Europe or hot and dry Mabbett)
positioned at the top of the category in cessing after roasting to the entire dos- containers and dosing units of the Op- arid and semi-arid conditions experi-
terms of quality, thanks to our modern ing and packaging process. At the trade tima packaging machines. The gas sup- enced throughout much of the Middle Foliar feeding allows growers to ‘pick
software and manufacturing equipment,” show, Optima will also be demonstrat- East. and choose’ which nutrients are applied,
says Simone Del Tongo, Sales Director of ing cutting-edge packaging technology the concentrations and quantities used,
the Dies & Moulds Business Line. In fact, for coffee portion packaging and exhib- and the exact timing in relation to spe-
the current production area consists of iting an OPTIMA CFL 1-6 for alumi- cific stages in the crop cycle. Essentially
fully automated machines working 24/7 num capsules. The Optima machines it will not matter what’s happening at soil
– unmanned – which produce products can easily be adjusted to take other level, because foliar feeding secures
capsule materials and systems. The rapid and unimpeded entry of nutrients Tomato seedlings having just pushed
portfolio being exhibited at the trade in a completely water-soluble form via through the soil, prone to damping
show also includes packaging tech- the leaves and into the plant for cellular off and therefore benefitting from
nology for granulated beverages and utilisation. applications Omex Nami (Bio 20) to
beverage powders, for sales packaging Secret of success for green- boost growth and resilience
made from cardboard, and for use on house-grown salad crops is identifying (Picture Dr Terry Mabbett)
pallets. Furthermore, innovative ser- ply principle is continued in the Optima nutrient needs in relation to particular
vices and line management software filling and sealing machines right up to stages of crop development such as flow-
ensure highly efficient long term oper- the point when the containers are sealed Newly-germinated cucumber seedlings, ering and fruit formation and predicting Omex spans the Middle East
ation with a low total cost of ownership to retain aroma. Special Manes silos can still at the cotyledon-leaf stage, prone potential nutrient ‘bottlenecks’ which
(TCO). also separate aromas when degassing the to damping off and therefore benefitting may individually impact on the entire Omex Agrifluids has a long-estab-
Interchangeable inserts like crab-inserts Optima coffee experts will demonstrate coffee and add them back to the coffee from applications of Omex Nami (Bio crop cycle. lished business record in Saudi Arabia
for crab-shape snacks leading technological solutions live at the before it is processed further. This means 20) to boost growth and resilience So exactly what are the typical plant supplying greenhouse growers with
(Photo Pavan/GEA) booth with an OPTIMA CFL 1-6 for alu- that the quality of the coffee is fully main- (Picture Dr Terry Mabbett) nutrition requirements for rapid unim- their crop nutrition needs. “We have
been working in Saudi Arabia for many
minum capsules. This includes the con- tained even with up to 12 hours of inter- peded production of high quality salad years through our distributor Al-Yaseen
trolled, pressure-free insertion of the del- mediate storage. Both companies are ap-
with very high accuracy and level of fin- icate aluminum capsules into the process, pearing together at the same trade show Controlled environments make multi- crops under controlled greenhouse Agricultural Company. More recently
ish. “We currently serve more than 200 followed by the packing of the coffee to booth. ple cropping a reality allowing growers conditions? To find out more I spoke Omex has expanded its interests into
pasta plants in 75 different countries,” the filling point, which is performed in a The OPTIMA CBF cartoning machine, to capitalise and ‘cash in’ on overseas with Peter Prentis Managing Director the wider Middle Eastern, North African
adds Del Tongo. The company has estab- way that protects the product in a highly for example, can be integrated into the markets when fresh food prices are high. of Omex Agrifluids, a globally-active and Mediterranean arena. We now sup-
lished important and long-standing rela- turnkey systems from Optima. It produces Middle Eastern growers concentrate on research and development based com- ply top-quality, liquid formulations of
tionships with pasta manufacturers and high-quality sales packaging for por- salad crops such as tomato, cucumber, pany with corporate headquarters, re- high-purity, water-soluble nutrients for
application by foliar spraying to farm-
universities to develop new and even tions. As a full-service provider, Optima pepper, aubergine and lettuce, relatively search facilities and manufacturing ca- ers and growers throughout this entire
more sophisticated extrusion systems, in covers the entire packaging process with short-cycle crops ideal for continuous pacity at Kings Lynn, eastern England in region, and now a world hub for the pro-
line with the latest food industry trends. outer-packaging systems, palletizers, cropping and for which there is always the United Kingdom. duction of fruit and vegetables, outdoors
During the last few years, the most im- and other functions. Optima will provide a market. and indoors under various levels of pro-
portant developments included the com- information about this approach at Host. Rapid growth and early maturation to tection,” says Peter.
The “InlineCan” cardboard cans and achieve the maximum number of crops
“SoftCan” foil cans provide significant and year-round availability of produce
effective way. When sealing the capsules, logistical advantages and are more eye- requires finely-tuned crop nutrition. The
the foil is fed in diagonally to ensure that catching at the point of sale (POS). Each high quality of nutrients is clearly im-
it is used in an optimal way. A two-step of the innovative packaging solutions is portant but the facility to use completely
sealing system ensures optimal results. To produced, filled, and sealed on-site in a water-soluble formulations (delivery
ensure the best impermeable seal possi- continuous process. This not only reduces systems) by foliar feeding is an equally
ble, an initial sealing station quickly and the costs of transporting empty contain- overriding requirement.
continuously readjusts the seal settings. ers, but also hugely reduces warehousing Foliar feeding is a key component of
The second sealing station ensures that costs. greenhouse growing in the Middle East.
the foil seal has a top-quality appearance. Packages of parts subject to wear that High-sand soils in Saudi Arabia and Cucumber seedlings now established
The Optima systems’ flexibility is also a are coordinated with maintenance cycles elsewhere frequently fail to maintain a with two true leaves (Picture Dr Terry
Die-washing machine model “Universal”, great benefit to its users. For example, are part of the WEmaintain service pro- sufficient supply of essential plant nutri- Mabbett) A well-established tomato seedling
for rectangular or round shape dies for they can quickly and easily be adapted gram from Optima. The operator is made ents in a plant available form given the with three true leaves (Picture Dr Terry
from aluminum to compostable capsules
dry pasta. (Photo Pavan/GEA) or expanded with additional stations. Op- aware of upcoming maintenance auto- inherently low organic matter contents of Mabbett)
many ‘native’ soils.
matically and with good notice.
18 Vol. 35 No. 7 Circle 26 on enquiry card Vol. 35 No. 7 19

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