Groupe Compagnie Fruitière* specialises in ripening and preparing fruit for “ripe and ready” sale (bananas, mangoes, pears, kiwi, papayas, etc.)
For this project, Clauger’s experts were asked to provide:
• Energy production,
• 9 ripening cells,
• Air treatment in areas for traders,
• Air treatment of tropical greenhouse used for hosting customers and commercial events.
This installation is expected to be operational by October 2020.This project will be the first leading reference for ripening units used in the Fruit and Vegetable sector. This solution was possible with the dual expertise in refrigeration and air treatment applications.
The project details:
1. Energy production and data feedback
Clauger offered one NH3 skid housed in a double 40’, this skid provides:
• The production of glycol water no. 1: 1,150 kW at +4 °C/+8 °C
• The production of glycol water no. 2: 785 kW at -5 °C/-1 °C.
Oil condensation and cooling done using an adiabatic air cooler.
Partial heat recovery used during the ripening process and while bringing fruit to the correct temperature before dispatching to work areas.
Each fruit variety has a specific cold room.
A connected installation:
Clauger integrates the management of COP (Coefficient of Performance) for each system.
Each cooling or heating source is fitted with an energy meter that monitors energy consumption of processes per fruit category.
2. Fruit ripening or preparation
The new site will have:
• 3 single-level ripening cells with a capacity of 28 palettes per cell for exotic fruit, pears, kiwifruit, etc. (24 to 30 tons of fruit)
• 6 double-level ripening cells with a capacity of 56 palettes per cell for bananas and mangoes (52 to 60 tonnes of fruit).
Clauger worked together with Interko, a Dutch company and global leader in ripening systems. This partnership provided our teams with its OPTIMO equipment range.
3. Air treatment
The two areas dedicated to Prosol and Exofarm traders are equipped with air handling units supplying 85,000 m3/h and 55,000 m3/h of air via textile duct distribution.
A dedicated air handling unit ensures proper air treatment for the tropical greenhouse and the meeting area.
*Groupe Compagnie Fruitière is the leading fruit producer in the ACP (Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific) area, producing almost 500 000 tonnes of fruit on its African plantations and in Ecuador. Its model is based on managing several business lines in the fruit sector to control all their stages: agricultural production, port and maritime logistics, ripening, and distribution. The group is Europe’s second largest operator in the banana sector; it currently markets over 800,000 tonnes of fruit across the whole of Europe and Africa.