{"id":4643,"date":"2019-05-16T23:45:18","date_gmt":"2019-05-16T23:45:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test-key-technology.pantheonsite.io\/en\/?post_type=news&p=4643"},"modified":"2023-04-07T23:46:35","modified_gmt":"2023-04-07T23:46:35","slug":"la-huerta-grows-with-key-technologys-iso-flo-vibratory-shakers","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.key.net\/en\/news\/la-huerta-grows-with-key-technologys-iso-flo-vibratory-shakers\/","title":{"rendered":"La Huerta Grows with Key Technology\u2019s Iso-Flo Vibratory Shakers"},"content":{"rendered":"

As one of Mexico\u2019s leading processors of frozen fruits and vegetables, La Huerta keeps up with rising demand by continually expanding. They added their third production line in 2016 and their fifth automated packaging line in September 2018. Looking for world-class performance, including superior sanitation and rugged reliability, they\u2019ve turned to Key Technology many times along the way. Now, Key\u2019s Iso-Flo\u00ae<\/sup> vibratory shakers can be found on every processing and packaging line at La Huerta.<\/p>\r\n

\u201cEvery year, the demand for food safety gets stricter, with higher standards for microbiology and sanitation and more requests for audits. In this environment, our relentless focus on quality sets us apart,\u201d said Carlos Gutierrez, Plant Manager at La Huerta. \u201cOur equipment from Key helps us achieve our high product quality objectives at the same time it increases our efficiencies by maximizing uptime and reducing labor.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

La Huerta installed Key\u2019s Veg-Mix\u2122 in 2006, followed by an Iso-Flo dewatering shaker and an Iso-Flo fines removal shaker the next year. Since then, they\u2019ve installed two integrated packaging distribution systems that each feature several Iso-Flo Smooth-Cycle\u2122 scale-feed conveyors with pneumatic slide gates and an Iso-Flo collection shaker. They added another dewatering shaker in 2016 and a bar-style size grader, also based on Key\u2019s versatile Iso-Flo design, in 2018.<\/p>\r\n

\u201cThe quality of Key\u2019s equipment is far better than any competitive solution that we\u2019ve used. As our other shakers reach the end of their life, we plan to replace them with Iso-Flo,\u201d noted Luis Picazo, Project and Maintenance Manager at La Huerta. \u201cKey customizes each of these shakers for our processes so they work perfectly, and they\u2019re designed to be easy to clean and hygienic. The support we\u2019ve received from Key has also been great. Whenever we have questions or need anything, they\u2019re very responsive.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Iso-Flo shakers have always been recognized for sanitation and reliability, and Key is continuously working to improve their designs with new features that exceed rising food safety standards. In addition to stainless steel construction, smooth beds and durable StrongArm\u2122 spring arms that have helped define Key\u2019s vibratory shakers over the years, La Huerta\u2019s newer Iso-Flo shakers also feature 100 percent continuous welds, no-pinch slide gates, stainless steel motors, self-draining surfaces and the elimination of laminations, which can trap bacteria. Every element of every Key system is designed for performance and sanitation.<\/p>\r\n

Featuring independent frame-mounted drives and spring arm assemblies, Iso-Flo shakers distribute energy equally to all parts of the shaker bed in a controlled natural-frequency operation. This operating principle minimizes the vibration that is transferred to structural support and the floor, which cuts the cost of installation, reduces energy use and offers quiet operation. Key\u2019s contoured StrongArm spring arms, made with propriety composite material, offer an operational life that is up to twice the life of traditional, straight spring arms. The stainless steel Iso-Drive\u00ae<\/sup> adds to Iso-Flo\u2019s extreme dependability, reducing maintenance and improving performance and uptime.<\/p>\r\n

\u201cLa Huerta has been in the \u2018healthy food business\u2019 since we were founded by Jose Arteaga Campos in 1957. Today, under the leadership of his son, Jose Arteaga Niepmann, we remain true to our original principles of respect, integrity, responsibility and teamwork while we evolve,\u201d said Katrin Derntl, International Sales Manager at La Huerta. \u201cAfter growing our sales volume on average 10 percent annually over the last five years, we\u2019re producing more than 60,000 metric tons of finished product a year and exporting more than 40 percent to 11 countries, including the U.S., Canada and Japan, where customers have the highest quality standards. Our products go to market under our own brand and under private label customers\u2019 brand names, as well. In Mexico, the La Huerta brand is by far the market leader in the frozen vegetable category with over 70% of market share in retail.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

La Huerta installed Key\u2019s Veg-Mix on their packaging lines to produce bags of mixed fruits or vegetables. This system receives each product in a separate infeed hopper, then de-clusters, meters, mixes and conveys the mixed product to packaging. The hopper design minimizes product \u2018sticking\u2019 to eliminate the buildup of thawed product. A long-span frame and integrated Iso-Flo collection conveyors allow for minimal supports to the floor, which makes the system easy to install and easy to clean. The master override adjusts total line flow while maintaining preset mix ratios. Independent, \u2018on-the-fly\u2019 adjustment of the Cluster Breaker and Vari-Feeder enable quick, reliable change of product mix and metering. \u201cOur Veg-Mix ensures the right amount of each product in the mix so we\u2019re sure to stay within specifications,\u201d explained Picazo.<\/p>\r\n

The two Iso-Flo packaging distribution lines at La Huerta feature several Iso-Flo Smooth-Cycle shakers with no-pinch sliding gates. One distribution system feeds product to three multi-head weighers that each feed a VFFS machine. The other feeds semi-automated packaging stations. Designed specifically for feeding applications, Smooth Cycle conveyors include controls that manage the flow of the product on the shaker, speeding up and slowing down as needed, to eliminate the mechanical stop\/start transients common in these applications.<\/p>\r\n

\u201cWe rely on equipment from Key on every processing and packaging line,\u201d concluded Gutierrez. \u201cWe\u2019re very happy with the machinery in terms of its quality, performance and sanitation, and we\u2019re very happy with Key\u2019s service and support.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

About Key Technology, Inc.<\/h3>\r\n

Key Technology is a global leader in the design and manufacture of automation systems including digital sorters, conveyors and other processing equipment. Applying processing knowledge and application expertise, Key helps customers in the food processing and other industries improve quality, increase yield, and reduce cost. <\/strong>\u00a0Key manufactures its products at its headquarters in Walla Walla, Washington, USA; Beusichem, the Netherlands; Hasselt, Belgium; and Redmond, Oregon, USA. Key offers customer demonstration and testing services at five locations including Walla Walla, Beusichem, and Hasselt as well as Sacramento, California, USA and Melbourne, Australia; and maintains a sales and service office in Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico. Key is a Duravant Company.<\/p>\r\n

About Duravant<\/h3>\r\n

Headquartered in Downers Grove, IL, Duravant is a global engineered equipment company with manufacturing, sales and service facilities throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Through their portfolio of operating companies, Duravant delivers trusted end-to-end process solutions for customers and partners through engineering and integration expertise, project management and operational excellence. With worldwide sales distribution and service networks, they provide immediate and lifetime aftermarket support to all the markets they serve in the food processing, packaging and material handling sectors. Duravant\u2019s market-leading brands are synonymous with innovation, durability and reliability. Visit www.duravant.com<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-4643","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.key.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/4643"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.key.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.key.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.key.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4633"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.key.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4643"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}