Wyma installs high-capacity potato wash line for Heartland Fresh Pak in Canada

Canadian potato processor Heartland Fresh Pak has successfully implemented a new high-capacity potato wash line designed and supplied by Wyma, enabling the operation to efficiently process varietal potatoes at rates of 50–60 tonnes per hour. 

The advanced system was developed to meet Heartland Fresh Pak’s need for a robust wash line capable of handling red, yellow, and russet potatoes while integrating seamlessly with the company’s existing flume pit and downstream optical grading equipment. The project also focused on maintaining product quality and improving water management efficiency throughout the process.

Complete integrated wash line solution

The new installation takes potatoes from the existing flume pit through to optical grading, fully integrated into Heartland Fresh Pak’s current infrastructure.

Potatoes are first flumed from storage into the wash pit before being conveyed by a 48-inch elevator onto perpendicular splitter belts. The splitter belts evenly divide product flow between two Horizontal Debris Removers, where pintle belt systems remove organic debris such as grass, vines, and corn cobs. A powered roller shear then transfers cleaned potatoes to the next stage, while waste material is collected on a common discharge belt and deposited into a waste bin.

Red potatoes move through Wyma’s high-capacity wash and conveying system, where debris removal technology separates organic material before the product advances to the next processing stage.

Efficient destoning and flexible polishing

Following debris removal, potatoes are elevated via a 48-inch conveyor into a Flume Destoner. The destoner uses a pump-generated upwell of water through a 39-inch-wide channel, allowing potatoes to remain buoyant while stones and heavy debris sink and are removed via an elevator into a separate collection bin. 

Potatoes move through the flume destoning system, where water flow keeps the crop suspended while stones sink for automatic separation and removal into a dedicated waste bin.

To maximise operational flexibility, the system includes a pneumatically controlled flume diverter that allows operators to either split product flow between two Vege-Polishers or direct all potatoes into a single unit during maintenance or lower-capacity operations.

Each Vege-Polisher 3518, the largest polishing model available from Wyma, can process up to 30–35 tonnes of potatoes per hour. The units use rotating drums fitted with nylon brushes and controlled water showers to wash and polish potatoes while protecting product quality.

Wyma’s Vege-Polisher system provides flexible potato cleaning and polishing, allowing operators to split or redirect product flow while maintaining high-capacity washing performance of up to 35 tonnes per hour.

Water reuse system improves efficiency

The wash line incorporates a closed-loop water management system designed to reduce water consumption while maintaining effective cleaning performance.

Process water from the polishers is pumped through a Rotary Filter before being returned to the destoner. Clarified water from the filtration system is reused for the polisher spray bars, while fresh water is automatically added as needed depending on soil and dirt levels within the process stream.

Drying, treatment and grading integration

After polishing, potatoes are discharged onto 36-inch elevators feeding 5-foot-wide Flat Bed Brushers equipped with 25 rollers combining felt and nylon brushes tailored to the product requirements. Automated wiper modules remove remaining product at the end of each production run.

Potatoes discharge onto flat bed brushers with felt and nylon rollers for final cleaning, rinsing, and optional sprout inhibitor application before packing.

At the discharge end, spray bars provide a final rinse while also allowing the application of sprout inhibitors or other treatment solutions.

The line then feeds directly into optical grading units capable of sorting potatoes into three grades. Grade No. 1 potatoes from both graders are merged and transferred via elevators to the customer’s sizer, with an optional conveyor reversal allowing direct delivery to bunkers. Grade No. 2 potatoes are transported to an existing dual bin filler system.

Supporting reliable high-capacity potato handling

According to the project overview, the completed wash line delivers a reliable and scalable solution for high-throughput potato processing operations. By combining controlled product handling, effective cleaning systems, integrated water reuse, and seamless grading connectivity, the installation provides stable day-to-day performance while efficiently managing dirt load and water consumption. 

The system now gives Heartland Fresh Pak a practical foundation for long-term, high-capacity potato handling and processing operations in Canada.