Top & Tail Cut, Husked, Sealed & Cooked
We are the global leaders in sweet corn packing lines and equipment.
The PROEX FOOD Vacuum Packed Sweet Corn Processing Line (aka European Fresh) creates picture-perfect, sealed and cooked products that your retail partners want to display on their fresh produce shelves.
Our lines also feature our PROEX SAW, PROEX HUSKER and can be outfitted with many other innovative technologies.
Whether your are scaling and improving your fresh corn production, or moving from growing into this space, we have attainable solutions for you. Most lines have paybacks within two years, and have multiple technology packages to suit your needs.
Capacities
Capacity on a vacuum packed cob line is typically based on the capacity of your husker(s) and cob saw(s) and scale as you do. These lines typically require a thermoformer, sealer and retort, and are therefore higher capacity to start.
These are meant to show you common capacities. As always, your needs are unique, and we design to what you need.
Standard Line
Below is simply a list of where we start and a couple options, for a 200 ear per minute line. This is considered a base-level for a integrated line. Our lines are custom design engineered for your capacity, space, budget and more.
When you work with PROEX FOOD, we guide you through the entire process. We also help you determine what an incremental scale and enhancement plan should be.
Some of the enhancement options available are listed in Enhancement Options, and there are many more options that we have listed.
Talk to us, we are ready to help you achieve maximum throughput, recovery and quality while reducing your labor dependencies.
Tote Dumper
For loading crates, RPCs or octobins into the system. Other options available.
1 of 17Metering Hopper
Manages flow into the system so that you have consistent product, but do not overload the system.
2 of 17Elevator
Bring infeed product up from the hopper to the platform-mounted saw.
3 of 17Cob Saw
The PROEX FOOD Cob Saw comes in 200 and 300 ear per minute (EPM) configurations. It has best-in-class cutting and waste removal capabilities. It also has guidelines for manual load systems.
Please ask us about our robotic load options.
4 of 17Husker Shaker
Evenly distribute cobs into the husker. Helps streamline and also helps mitigate damage.
5 of 17Husker
The PROEX FOOD Husker is best-in-class for sweet corn and seed corn processing. Vacuum packed lines typically use our fresh variant, with air and water. This is efficient, and minimizes damage.
We have multiple product tiers and capacities, depending on your capacity and budget.
6 of 17Inspection Conveyor
A QC step to ensure cobs are fully husked and without other noticeable damage prior to moving to next processing steps.
There are both manual and robotic options for this stage.
7 of 17Washer
For a vacuum-packed line, this helps clean cobs before additional processing. We have rotary and other washer types.
8 of 17Conveyors
Depending on capacity and layout, there may be a need for belt and elevator conveyors at this stage.
9 of 17Vibratory Feeder
Much like the husker, the blancher/cooler is optimized when product flow if evenly dispersed. That is what this feeder does.
10 of 17Blancher / Cooler
For vaccum-packed and frozen cob lines, a blancher and cooler is used to help mitigate contamination within the product prior to packing.
11 of 17Distribution System
On some vacuum-packed lines, especially higher capacity lines, processors will freeze part of the output for later packing in the thermoformer. This can be especially helpful to maintain product to be vacuum packed throughout the year.
For these lines, a distribution system is set up to split and meter product to the subsequent processes.
12 of 17IQF Line Elevator
If there is an IQF component, an elevator and/or conveyor to the freezing system.
13 of 17IQF Vibratory Feeder
If there is an IQF component, a shaker to spread out product prior to the IQF. This helps maintain consistency in the freezing product, and helps maintain capacity.
14 of 17IQF Tunnel
If there is an IQF component, the actual freezing tunnel.
From here, multiple options.
15 of 17Thermoforming Machine
For product that is vacuum-packed immediately, the machine that does it. Forms the pouches, product is loaded, and product is sealed.
Ask us about robotic loading options.
16 of 17Retort
For product that is vacuum-packed, this uses steam and pressure to eradicate bacteria and extend shelf-life.
In this drawing, there are two basket retorts (batch retorts) depicted.
17 of 17These options are always customized to your needs.
Enhancement Options
From scanning to robotics, we have enhancements that will further automate and optimize your line.
Often, the paybacks are faster than you may think.
- X-Ray
- Vision System
- Image Processing
- Robotic Integration
- Cob Saw Loading
- Green Ear Sorting
- Thermoformer Packing
- Case Packing
- Palletizing
- Robust Architecture
- Centralized
- Connected
- Sensors
- Data Analysis
Engineering
PROEX FOOD engineers will perfect the design of your line to make sure your cobs or cobettes are handled gently and hygienically, giving you the highest yield prices. We will ensure your operation delivers high-quality product with high levels of throughput.
Our cob saw is also perfect for fresh market, allowing you to top & tail cut “green cobs” prior to husking. This ensures you output visually appealing product.
When you are ready to incorporate robotics, sensors and digital tracking into your line, our team knows how to integrate for you.
Here are some of the more common pieces that may be included on your vacuum-packed sweet corn line. Remember, we can deliver these independently, as a fully-integrated line, or incrementally. The choice is yours! Once we understand your needs, capacities, budgets and timelines, we are ready to propose your optimized solution.
Our equipment and lines are designed to be hygienic and easy to access for maintenance needs. We also have solutions for traceability and other sensor-driven capabilities.
Whether you manage a growing processing facility or are a grower transitioning into this world, we are here to provide the right solution for your needs. We also work commonly on multi-phase implementation and growth plans.
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
You can choose to have the machines delivered separately, ensuring separate shipments for each individual machine. Alternatively, if preferred, the machines can also be delivered as a complete line, packaged together as a cohesive and integrated system. Sometimes, we set you on a multi-year approach to upgrade as your business needs evolve.
The ultimate decision on the mode of delivery rests with you and can be tailored to suit your specific preferences and needs.
Our processing lines are designed to provide the best end-result possible, with a focus on high-quality, easy maintenance, and clean operation to optimize the final product quality.
Our engineers custom design your line to your product and output specifications.
Plus, you can only find modern, digital-capable lines and equipment, including the iNTELLIPRO® series of connected, digitally intelligent products, at PROEX FOOD.
Our processing lines easily adjust to your capacity and product conditions. Belt speeds, cutting lengths, and husking aggressiveness, and more, allowing for flexibility in production based on your specific needs.
Complete, turnkey lines typically include a central waste line for efficient waste management, ensuring that waste is managed effectively and does not interfere with the production process.
This is highly variable, and designed specific to your needs and budgets. The layouts, types and counts of individual machines, inclusion of sensors, integration of AI-powered vision systems, optical sorters, robotics, digital intelligence (iNTELLIPRO® CONNECT) and more are integrated as applicable for you.
The processing line is designed to be easy to maintain, with a focus on easy access and robust machinery that ensures long life of wear parts.
We can offer stainless, wash-down motors and more. It all depends on your specific requirements.
All highly variable based on your capacity, input conditions, output needs and more. The processing line can include machinery for infeed, metering, xray (iNTELLIPRO® SCANNING), top and tail removal (iNTELLIPRO SAW), removing the leaves and silk/hair (iNTELLIPRO® HUSKER), green ear sorting (multiple options), kernel remover (cutter), dosing, optical sorters, tray packing robotics, waste conveyors, and much, much more.
Each line is customized to be optimal for your specific needs.
Always depends on your needs. We prefer to make equipment out of 304 stainless steel. Some customers require other materials or finishes.
For sweet corn, product touchpoints are typically stainless steel or a composite.