TABLE OLIVES PROCESSING 2: CALIBRATING, OXIDATING, PITTING

CALIBRATING LINES

Except for small capacities, these kinds of lines are totally automatic nowadays. They include electronic selector machines. These machines have standard capacities for 3.000 Kg/h, substitute a big number of workers and make the sorting (it separates 3 different kind of qualities) with a better precision and guarantee.

The full line includes hopper with elevator, stemer machine, electronic selector machine (or selection belts) and calibrating machine. The calibrating machine must be chosen according to the calibres and the foreseen capacity, which uses to be 3.000 Kg/h in this kind of lines.

OXIDATION LINES

Oxidation is a discontinuous process, which takes place in PRFV horizontal tanks of a capacity between 5 and 10 tonnes of product.The needed time for the complete oxidation of the olives varies between 3 and 5 days. The additional equipment necessary is the rotative air blower with the adequate capacity, and the piping system needed for the automation of the process.

PITTING, SLICING, STUFFING LINES

At present, the trend is to level the production speed of this line with the canning line, connecting both of them. Therefore, several pitting machines are disposed in the line in order to match at least the canning line standard capacity for the chosen format. The pitted or stuffed olive goes through a densimeter and a washing machine, and after the inspection, they go straight to the canning line. The pits are transported by underground piping to a storing tank, with the help of special pump and water circulation circuits.

There is a high variety of stuffs at present and it is very important to note that the filling machine of the canning line to be designed not to produce damage in the stuffed olive.