Elba sugar cubing line Cubes full of sweet success engineering for a better world
Delighting the eye and the tastebuds Manufacturing sparkling, sharp-edged, perfectly formed, fast- or slow dissolving sugar cubes couldn t be easier with the Elba sugar cubing line from Aquarius. This market-leading line combines the latest technologies with 45 years market experience, to deliver a world-leading line that is sweetness itself for producers worldwide. Reliable, easy to operate, and requiring minimum maintenance, the fully automated Elba production line can produce 300 to 2700 kg of packed cubes an hour at an impressivecost/performance ratio. High on performance, low on cost Due to Aquarius innovative microwave technology, the new generation high performance Elba sugar cubing line provides high capacity continuous production (up to 65 tons a day according to required quality and cube size specifications). A real breakthrough when it comes to saving energy. But that s not the only place you ll make significant savings: because the Elba system is easy to operate and simple to maintain, only one operator is needed to control two fully automatic production lines. A radical advance over alternative solutions, the Elba sugar cubing line enables you to cut your labour costs significantly. The full line comprises three elements: the ElbaCuber, ElbaDryer and ElbaPacker. It can be completed with box-forming and -closing equipment At a glance Major labour cost savings up to 50% Energy savings up to 25% thanks to unique patented microwave technology Fully automated, easy to operate High capacity process Optimal product flexibility: one line for multiple cube and box sizes Minimal maintenance and cleaning required Compact horizontal design, less floor space required Built to CE standards. 2
ElbaCuber to cover all your production and packaging needs from start to finish. Moreover to maximize output whatever your production mix, the line is designed to accommodate a variety of cube and packaging formats quickly and easily. With the Elba sugar cubing line, you can meet the latest consumer trends and stay at the forefront of the market. Safety matters The ergonomic Elba sugar cubing line has also been developed with safety in mind and meets all current CE safety and hygiene standards. Its hygienic design assures a minimum number of dead spots, leaving virtually no room for germs to accumulate. In addition, innovative use of patented microwave drying technology ensures that bacteria are eradicated swiftly and efficiently. 3
Perfect sugar cubes in three easy steps With the Elba line there are three simple steps to perfect cubes. First, the cubes are formed in the ElbaCuber and then dried to a low and stable end moisture content in the ElbaDryer. Finally, the ElbaPacker provides a flexible solution for ranged packaging of the sugar cubes in boxes. Other fully automated solutions for a smooth transfer of your sugar cubes to a wrapping machine are also available. ElbaCuber Excellent results start with precise electronic control, ensuring optimal ratios of water and dry granulated sugar are mixed to exact tolerances in the mixing unit. Subsequently, the mould pockets are filled by a series of filling pins. The cubes are formed and then carefully deposited onto the conveyor belt and transported to the high performance ElbaDryer drying unit. All your concerns regarding cleanliness are literally swept away by the Elba Matrix Cleaning System. Remaining sugar particles are automatically brushed off the mould and dies during production, ensuring absolute cleanliness and optimal moisture control ElbaCuber 4
What s more, as the matrix can stay in place during cleaning, no valuable production time is lost dismantling and reassembling it, making the cleaning process swift and easy. In addition, the ElbaCuber s modular matrix cassette system also ensures optimal output flexibility and an easy increase in capacit, at a minimum additional investment. ElbaDryer The ElbaDryer is your key to major energy savings and reduced drying times thanks to its patented microwave technology. Sugar cubes are instantly heated by the microwave energy and then left to dry and harden in the conditioner through natural evaporation. With heating and drying times shortened,only a compact line is required, keeping the total length of the production line to a minimum. Maximum flexibility is ensured by this compact dryer s modular design that allows you to alter the number of microwave ovens according to your required output. IN ACTION First, dry granulated sugar is mixed with water in the ElbaCuber mixer. Then the moulds are filled and the cubes are formed and deposited at regular intervals on a conveyor belt. Next, the cubes are taken through the ElbaDryer where they are heated using microwave technology. After heating, the cubes enter the conditioner for further drying and hardening by means of natural evaporation. At the end of the conveyor belt, the ElbaPacker suction heads delicately place the cubes in the waiting boxes. 5
ElbaDryer ElbaPacker As well as cutting down on energy consumption, the ElbaDryer s microwave technology ensures optimal food safety. Virtually all risk of microbiological contamination is eliminated so that your product will reach consumers in perfect condition. ElbaPacker Designed to meet all your packaging requirements, the ElbaPacker can fill up to seven 200 to 1000 g boxes at a time, and operates in complete electronic synchronisation with the ElbaCuber. Once the cubes have been formed and dried, a series of servo motor powered suction heads delicately lifts the blocks of sugar cubes and places them into the waiting boxes. A servo motor powered 3-stage carrousel then transfers the boxes to their respective infeed, filling and discharge positions. A touch screen facilitates precise electronic control of the suction heads so the right number of layers (up to 5) is placed in the boxes to the correct height. Easily and quickly adaptable to a variety of box styles and sizes, the compact ElbaPacker is the finishing touch you need to ensure your product stands out in today s competitive market. Box-forming and box-closing Your sugar cubing line can be completed with a fullyautomated packaging line that can easily be adapted toyour requirements. Carton blanks of various sizes andstyles can be erected on the box-forming machine bymeans of a mechanical locking technique or by usingglue. This glueless box erecting system ensures cleanand easy operation and minimum maintenance. Theperfect square boxes are tight and leak-free. At the endof the line, the filled boxes can be closed quick andsecurely by means of hot melt glue in the box-closingmachine. 6
Shapes and boxes to suit all tastes Whether you re creating traditional cubes or a variety of enticing and original shapes (hearts, diamonds, Christmas trees, etc), the Elba sugar cubing line ensures cubes are prepared to exactly the right consistency for optimal solubility (fast and slow dissolving) and a uniform weight. And manufacturing all these many products on one and the same line is simplicity itself! Changing the size and shape of the sugar cubes is simply a matter of replacing the matrix cassettes. Additionally, a wide variety of box designs and packaging options (individually wrapped, ranged or unranged) are available. Your attractively packed and temptingly presented product is sure to stand out in the market and receive the attention it deserves from your customer! 7
We live our values. Excellence Passion Integrity Responsibility GEA-versity GEA Group is a global engineering company with multi-billion euro sales and operations in more than 50 countries. Founded in 1881, the company is one of the largest providers of innovative equipment and process technology. GEA Group is listed in the STOXX Europe 600 index. GEA Mechanical Equipment GEA Food Solutions Weert B.V. P.O. Box 296, 6000 AG - De Fuus 8, 6006 RV Weert, The Netherlands Tel. +31 (0)495 457 777, Fax +31 (0)495 524 125 info@gea.com, www.gea.com The information contained in this brochure merely serves as a non-binding description of our products and is without guarantee. Binding information, in particular relating to capacity data and suitability for specific applications, can only be provided within the framework of concrete inquiries. Subject to modification. B14.04.00EN / 022013 GEA Food Solutions