Efficiency in food processing: get more out of your process

Why efficiency is more important than ever

Pressure on production processes has increased significantly in recent years. On the one hand, customers demand more product variants, smaller batches and shorter delivery times. On the other hand, rising energy prices, labor shortages and stricter requirements in food safety and sustainability create additional challenges. This means your process must be faster, smaller, flexible, reliable and future-proof.

This calls for optimization. Every second of downtime, every kilogram of waste and every manual step that can be automated counts. Companies that manage to increase output without buying more materials or generating more waste build sustainable profitability.

What do we mean by efficiency in food processing?

Efficiency in the food processing industry goes beyond simply ‘producing more in less time’. It involves optimal use of raw materials, labor, energy and machinery. This results in maximum output, minimal waste and consistent product quality.

It starts with smart process optimization. This includes:

• Less downtime through robust, low-maintenance machines.

• Lower product losses through more precise peeling, cutting or sorting.

• Faster changeover times between products.

• Effective use of raw materials and residual flows.

• Using data to plan preventive maintenance.

Increasing output without compromise

Higher output sounds attractive, but only if quality is maintained. That is exactly where advanced technology and smart automation make the difference. At Marcelissen, we see every day that efficiency is not about working harder but working smarter. By placing the right machines at the right points in the process, you can often achieve more than you expect.

Our Slitmaster series is a good example of this. Take the Slitmaster 105. This machine is specifically developed to cut fries as efficiently as possible. Designed with advanced technology and innovative features, it is the ideal solution for companies looking to improve the efficiency of their cutting process. Consistent cuts minimize waste, resulting in more final product, less cutting loss and constant quality.

Besides all the technical benefits, the Slitmaster series also stands out economically. Because these machines save a significant amount of labor hours and eliminate manual tasks, the return on investment is exceptionally fast. This makes it a smart choice not only operationally but also financially. Moreover, the Slitmaster machines are among the most cost-effective cutting solutions in their class, without compromising on quality or durability.

Increasing output in practice

Every production process is different. Through co-creation with our customers, we deliver efficient customized solutions tailored to specific wishes and needs. Together with the customer, we identify bottlenecks, losses and optimization opportunities throughout the chain. Our collaboration with Börde Vita GmbH is a striking example.

The company had long used optical sorting machines that required much manual re-sorting. Given the daily volumes processed, this was a very labor-intensive process. The management wanted to deploy staff more efficiently. After meeting at a trade fair, we recommended the Optical Sorter Pneumatic.

We then installed two Optical Sorters at Börder Vita GmbH. These machines complement the existing ones: the older machines handle the initial sorting, while Marcelissen’s machines take care of the qualitative and bulk sorting. Capacity increased significantly and employees previously involved in manual sorting could be reassigned within the process. This proved beneficial for both costs and efficiency.

Where to start improving?

Many companies realize their process can improve but don’t know where to begin. Our advice is to map out where losses occur. These could be losses from cutting waste, water use, energy consumption, but also production downtime or rework. We always start with critical and essential questions:

• Where are the most manual steps?

• How flexible is the production process?

• What is the average downtime per week?

• How much material do I lose on average per day?

• Where in the process do I see the largest quality differences?

By linking answers to these questions with available data, you gain insight into where improvements are possible in your process.

Marcelissen helps you get more out of your process

With over 75 years of experience in the food processing industry, we understand better than anyone how important a smoothly running process is. We don’t just build machines, we build solutions that optimize processes and increase output tailored to your situation.

Whatever your challenge in food processing, our technology helps you to:

• Reduce waste.

• Ensure consistent product quality.

• Switch faster between product variants.

• Become less dependent on manual labor.

• Produce more sustainably.