At Waterman Onions in Emmeloord, we recently installed and optimised windshifting on a Flikweert Divider with an impressive working width of 2,400 mm. The goal was to improve the pre-cleaning process and make better use of the machine’s available capacity.
The windshifting system removes skins, foliage, and loose sand before the onions continue into the production line. By separating these materials at an early stage, less unnecessary volume is carried through the rest of the process. This results in a cleaner, more consistent product flow and enables the equipment further down the line to operate more efficiently.
Correct airflow is essential to achieve the best result. Across a working width of 2,400 mm, the air must be distributed evenly and adjusted precisely. The airflow needs to be strong enough to remove skins, foliage, and loose sand, while ensuring that the onions remain stable and follow the intended path through the machine.
For this project, the windshifting system was carefully fine-tuned to match the product flow and operating conditions at Waterman Onions. The right balance between air volume, airflow direction, product distribution, and processing speed was crucial. This application-specific adjustment allows the divider to perform consistently across its full working width.
A cleaner product flow also reduces the load on the equipment further down the line. Conveyors and other processing machines receive fewer unwanted materials, which improves process stability and reduces unnecessary accumulation throughout the installation. As a result, more of the available line capacity can be used for processing onions.
Following the modification, Waterman Onions achieved a significant increase in capacity.
“Since the adjustment, we have achieved a capacity increase of at least ten percent,” says Wim Waterman.
The project demonstrates how a focused technical improvement can deliver measurable results. The performance of the existing installation was improved by optimising one essential step in the process.
By applying windshifting correctly, Waterman Onions now benefits from cleaner onions entering the production line, more efficient downstream processing, and a substantial increase in overall capacity. This makes windshifting an essential part of achieving maximum performance from the divider.
