Hermasa Boosts Canning Efficiency With Density Control System
The fish canning equipment manufacturer, Hermasa, has developed a new canning machine that allows tuna packing companies to fill 500 cans per minute. The latest addition to its line of TUNIPACK machines has a unique density control system which makes it increasingly efficient in comparison to its competitors, the firm tells Atuna.
Commercial Manager at the firm, Adrián Carril, claims the TUNIPACK-500 DC is more versatile than any other machine in the market due to its ability to fill each can at the required weight, and adapt to the height of the can without changing the format of the machine.
He argues in comparison to its competitors, the machine is considerably faster while being easy to use and maintain. The latest TUNIPACK has a touchscreen control panel incorporated in the machine which allows the operator to ensure the right height and weight of the can is entered. The characteristics of the machine, including weight accuracy and low cost maintenance, “produce direct results, they save time and save money”, according to Carril.
The firm, which is based in Vigo, Spain, says it has a presence in 65 countries across the world. Its home country is however where canned tuna is produced on a large scale, with the product a frontrunner in Spain’s seafood sector. However, there are still some Spanish brands, many of which are family-run businesses that have stood by tradition, choosing to continue using jars and hand-packing their tuna.
When asked if this has affected business in Spain, Carril explains this is far from the case: these companies still need other equipment that Hermasa can supply. Carril says machinery, such as retorts and palletizers, are still used by these Spanish brands at other stages of production, rather than the filling process.
As well as equipment for tuna processors, the canning manufacturer also builds machinery for canning sardines and mackerel - since 1972. Its tuna line is however unique due to the fact that it also offers clients the chance to use the TunaScan. This equipment is said to be the world’s first technology that classifies tuna species better than the human eye. As juvenile yellowfin and bigeye can be difficult to distinguish due to their similar appearance, Carril says the TunaScan prevents the risk of canned tuna that is supposed to only contain yellowfin, from also containing bigeye.
Once the raw material is classified, the TUNIPACK-500 DC can produce tuna cans in any format from sizes 211 to 307 and is developed to fill two tuna cans simultaneously. With “simple and easy-to-operate equipment” in demand, Hermasa believes its latest model fills this requirement and also provides the quality factories need.