PPM Technologies, Key Technology Introduce Fully-Integrated Potato Chip Processing Line

NEWBURG, Ore. — PPM Technologies and Key Technology, both Duravant operating companies, will introduce their new fully-integrated potato chip processing line at Snackex booth 431, taking place June 17-18 at FIL Expo in Lisbon, Portugal.

Designed for processors managing raw material variability, labor shortages and the coordination demands of high-volume chip production, the line brings together PPM's frying, seasoning and product handling capabilities with Key's optical sorting technology into a single, unified solution, the manufacturer said. The integrated line helps achieve consistent product quality, recover more usable product, reduce labor requirements and offer single-source accountability with global support, PPM said.

“Potato chip processing lines that hold up under challenging conditions aren't just well spec-ed,” said Daniel Luna, director of processing at PPM Technologies. “They're built by partners who understand what each stage demands, can anticipate future needs and are committed to making those technologies work as one cohesive unit. PPM and Key have two of the longest histories in the potato chip industry, and their depth of expertise doesn't just show up at startup – it’s there through the life of the equipment.”

After frying, optical sorting is one of the last opportunities to remove defects and foreign material before product reaches packaging. Combining multi-channel sensor data and multi-wavelength strobing technology, Key’s Compass sorter identifies dark spots, green discoloration and white knots as well as fryer debris without the more complex laser-based systems that can increase maintenance costs, the manufacturer said.

PPM Technologies

From inspection, product is transferred to the manufacturer's FlavorWright All-in-One seasoning system, which applies liquid and/or dry seasoning immediately before the weigh scale and packaging equipment. Since any coating inconsistency at this stage passes directly into the finished product, FlavorWright All-in-One’s precise application controls are optimized to achieve consistent coverage across every batch, the manufacturer said. Quick-release components support changeovers in as little as five minutes, and IP65-rated washdown capability keeps sanitation straightforward across frequent flavor changes, according to PPM.

PPM said its slice feeder is at the front of the line and equipped with a dual auger feed conveyor to meter whole potatoes into the slicer at a controlled rate to produce uniform slices for consistent frying. The manufacturer said a coordinated network of PPM conveyors then connects each subsequent stage, with horizontal-motion conveyors moving chips gently between steps to minimize breakage and seasoning loss and vibratory conveyors metering product accurately to multi-head weighers at packaging.

Beyond the conveying network, each element of the line is configured to fit the processor’s plant layout and production requirements, PPM said. Centralized and local controls give operators real-time visibility across the line. Key Discovery software collects and analyzes data about every object passing through the Compass sorter, helping processors identify and address trends in yield, reject rates, raw material variability and upstream equipment performance, the manufacturer said.