Fruit processing machines

How to choose fruit processing machines

Choosing the most suitable machine depends on the type of fruit to be processed, the desired hourly output and the final product you want to obtain: pulp, purée, juice, fruit purée, jam, preserve or semi-finished product.

For proper processing, it is important to first assess the stage of the process: crushing, destoning, pulp separation, filtration, collection, pasteurisation or filling. Each machine has a specific function and can be used individually or integrated into a small fruit processing line.

Fruit crushing

When the fruit does not contain hard stones, the first step can be crushing. The electric fruit mill is suitable for shredding stone-free fruit and vegetables, such as apples, pears, potatoes and carrots.

The machine is made from AISI 304 stainless steel and is equipped with an electric motor, internal blades, interchangeable screens and an emergency stop system. It is designed for professional use and prepares the product for the next processing stage.

Destoning and pulping

For stone fruits, or for processes where the pulp must be separated from solid parts, destoning and pulping machines are used.

These machines can be used for several applications: cherries, olives, apricots, plums, peaches, tomatoes and cooked vegetables. Their function is to separate the pulp from the stones and crush the fruit, obtaining a mash suitable for jams, preserves, fermentation or other preparations.

Destoning machines are available in different models with different production capacities. The interchangeable stainless steel screens allow the machine to be adapted to the type of fruit and the desired result. The perforation size should be selected according to the raw material to be processed and the final consistency required.

Fruit juice production

To produce fruit juices, extracting or separating the pulp is not always enough. In many cases, further stages are also required, such as filtration, collection, pasteurisation and, when necessary, filling.

The rotary filter can be added to the line to separate and refine the product obtained from processing. The stainless steel collection tank, equipped with a filtering grid, wheels, level probes and pump control, helps manage the transfer of liquid or pulp from one stage to the next.

The automatic fruit juice pasteuriser is designed for juices and low-viscosity liquids. The pasteurisation process subjects the liquid to thermal shock and helps improve product shelf life. The model in this category works with automatic temperature control and has an hourly output, as indicated in the technical sheet, of 300 litres at 80°C.

Pomegranate and prickly pear processing

Specific solutions are available for pomegranates and prickly pears. The dedicated processing line includes, in its basic configuration, a stainless steel deseeding machine and a pulping machine.

The deseeding machine opens the fruit and separates the arils, which can then be collected and sent to the pulping machine to obtain juice. Depending on the type of processing, accessories such as stainless steel supports, motorised tanks and pump systems can also be considered to make product transfer from one stage to another more continuous.

Which machine to choose according to the process

Each processing stage requires a specific machine. Below is a practical summary to help you choose based on the type of processing required.

• Crushing stone-free fruit or vegetables
  Recommended machine: electric fruit mill.
  When to use it: during the first product preparation stage.
• Separating pulp and stones
  Recommended machine: destoning and pulping machine.
  When to use it: for cherries, apricots, plums, peaches, olives, tomatoes and similar processing applications.
• Preparing pulp for jams or preserves
  Recommended machine: destoning and pulping machine.
  When to use it: when a workable mash is required.
• Processing fruit for juices
  Recommended machines: destoning/pulping machine, filter, tank and pasteuriser.
  When to use them: when the process requires separation, filtration and heat treatment.
• Managing product transfer between machines
  Recommended machine: stainless steel collection tank.
  When to use it: when liquid or semi-finished product needs to be collected and transferred.
• Processing pomegranates or prickly pears
  Recommended machine: dedicated line with deseeding machine and pulping machine.
  When to use it: when arils need to be separated and juice obtained.
• Stabilising fruit juices
  Recommended machine: automatic pasteuriser.
  When to use it: when the product requires heat treatment.

How to choose between models

Before purchasing, it is useful to consider a few practical aspects:

• type of fruit to be processed;
• presence or absence of stones;
• average fruit diameter;
• quantity of product to be processed per hour;
• desired final result;
• availability of single-phase or three-phase power supply;
• need for additional screens, grids or accessories;
• possibility of integrating multiple machines into a small processing line.

For example, the destoning machine technical sheets indicate that the fruit must be ripe and soft. The 550 kg/h model is suitable for fruit with a maximum diameter of 8 cm; for larger diameters, bigger models are recommended. The 1000 kg/h model has a recommended maximum diameter of 12 cm, while the 2000 kg/h model reaches up to 18 cm.