As processors increasingly work with potatoes sourced from more challenging growing conditions, FAM STUMABO introduces StoneExtractor to improve stone evacuation within the cutting head and reduce the operational impact of embedded stones. The solution delivered excellent results under real processing conditions at Kelly Ges.m.b.H., the market leader in Austria.
In potato chips processing, the presence of small stones and foreign materials remains a persistent operational challenge. Even after multiple washing and sorting stages, embedded stones can still reach the cutting process, often hidden within the potato and difficult to detect or remove.
While this risk was traditionally limited through sourcing strategies and favourable growing conditions, it is becoming increasingly difficult to control. Variable weather patterns, harvesting constraints, and supply pressures are pushing processors to work with potatoes grown in less ideal conditions, including rockier soils. As a result, the likelihood of stones entering the slicing stage continues to increase.
When small stones create high operational costs
Despite the use of advanced optical sorting systems and cleaning technologies, a small percentage of foreign materials inevitably reaches the cutting head. Once inside, even small stones can cause disproportionate damage.
The issue is not limited to the initial impact. Stones that are not immediately evacuated may continue moving inside the cutting head and strike multiple blades in succession. This causes cumulative damage, increases maintenance requirements, leads to unplanned downtime, and can affect slice consistency.
A recent project with a European potato chips producer highlighted this challenge under real processing conditions. Faced with sourcing constraints, the company began processing potatoes grown in rockier soils and experienced recurring problems linked to stones reaching the cutting stage. The result was repeated blade damage, increased maintenance frequency, and reduced production stability.
Closing a critical gap in cutting head design and performance
To address this issue, FAM STUMABO has introduced the StoneExtractor, a new development in centrifugal cutting technology specifically designed to improve the evacuation of small stones from the cutting head. Rather than focusing solely on impact resistance or detection, the StoneExtractor addresses a critical but often overlooked aspect of the process: preventing stones from remaining inside the cutting head after impact.
By enabling stones to exit the cutting area immediately, the system helps prevent repeated impacts across multiple blades and helps reduce cumulative damage.
The StoneExtractor is not a standalone machine, but an evolution of the cutting head segment design. It can be implemented by upgrading existing equipment with the new segment geometry, allowing processors to improve stone evacuation and cutting reliability without major modifications to their current setup.
