The Definitive "Turnkey" Solution for medium-scale processors seeking export-quality output.
From the harvest bin to the finished, weighed, and packaged product, the CD 4 is the integral line for the dried-prune processor who needs a complete, automated system on a compact scale — ideal for medium-sized plants or new investments where flexibility and implementation cost matter as much as final quality.
21 integrated machines, four sectors in continuous flow:
A — Washing and Initial Inspection
- Hydraulic Bin Tipper with independent power unit, compatible with standard bins.
- Elevator dosing the fruit toward the washing sector.
- Rotary Washer with perforated cylinder and water spray traveling the fruit from end to end.
- Inspection Conveyor after rotary washing, where operators remove damaged fruit or foreign matter before the second washing stage.
- Single-Cascade Washer with inclined water-fall steps and self-cleaning system.
B — Conditioning
- Continuous Hydrator-Tenderizer: closed tunnel where the prune takes on moisture and temperature from direct steam injection distributed above and below the belt. Imported woven belt, hydraulic-cylinder lift-up cover, paddle-type rotary valves at infeed and discharge, and variable residence time via electronic speed variator.
- Tenderizer Extraction Conveyor receiving the conditioned fruit at the exit.
- Collection Conveyor consolidating the flow before pitting.
C — Pitting
- Elevator to Distribution Conveyor lifting the fruit to the pitter-row plane.
- Pitter Distribution Conveyor with adjustable lateral deflectors distributing flow among the 4 units.
- 4 Pitters with step-by-step head adjustable to any prune size; the knives extract the pit through the natural opening without damaging the pulp.
- Working Platform for 4 Pitters in stainless steel with anti-slip aluminum floor, protective railings and access stairs.
- Pit Extraction Conveyor discharging extracted pits laterally.
- Prune Extraction Conveyor collecting the already-pitted prunes.
D — Final Cleaning, Brightening and Packaging
- Elevator to Cleaning Screen taking the pitted fruit to the final-cleaning equipment.
- Cleaning Screen separating pit residues, pitting waste and out-of-spec product.
- Elevator to Brightener feeding the finishing module.
- Brightener with rotary spray system: applies brightening agent and sorbate to perfect commercial appearance and extend shelf life.
- Illuminated Inspection Conveyor dedicated to the final visual control of the brightened fruit before packaging.
- Weighing Elevator dosing the product in fixed quantities for packing.
- Roller Conveyor moving the weighed cases/bags toward the palletizing area.
Construction and sanitary philosophy:
All-stainless-steel AISI 304 construction from the washing sector to the output — fully resistant to the natural acid attack of prune and to corrosion from daily sanitary washing. All conveyor belts in white sanitary polypropylene. Drives with oil-bath gearmotors and fully shielded three-phase motors. Control panels included on key equipment.
Albion technology benefits:
- End-to-end integral process: washing, inspection, conditioning, pitting, brightening, weighing, and packaging unified in a single line from a single supplier — perfect compatibility and uninterrupted workflow.
- Superior final-product quality: every stage designed to improve quality — intensive cleaning, controlled tenderizing, careful pitting, post-pitting cleaning screen and brightening finish.
- Capacity tailored to medium plants: 4 pitters offer a balance between productivity and implementation cost, ideal for processors starting out or scaling progressively.
- Weighed product ready for dispatch at line exit: integration with weigher and roller conveyor reduces palletizing labor.
- Pre-assembled and concatenated in our workshop before dispatch — the line arrives ready to install on-site.
- 12-month warranty on mechanical parts of our manufacture.
A complete engineering solution that grants full control over production at a scale suited to medium-sized processors, guaranteeing export-quality product and maximum profitability for the business.
