Following the successful completion of a dust extraction project at EUROPLANT Pflanzenzucht GmbH in Wietzendorf in 2024, we were once again entrusted with equipping a new Europlant site with our dust extraction solutions. This time, the project involved the modern processing facility in Wunstorf, where efficiency, automation and a clean working environment are key priorities.
For this new location, Europlant opted for an advanced processing line featuring optical sorting and fully automated crate handling. A modern installation of this kind requires a well-considered approach to dust control. During potato processing, dust, sand, haulm residues and other light contaminants can be released. Without a properly designed extraction system, these materials can spread throughout the processing line and the working environment, with adverse effects on process continuity, hygiene and maintenance.
Advice from the ground up
Based on the selected process line, we advised Europlant on the most effective extraction points within the installation. Careful attention was given to the areas where dust and light contaminants are generated or accumulated. By capturing these sources in a targeted way and extracting them directly, contamination is addressed as early as possible at its origin.
The integration of windshifting also played an important role. This technique uses targeted airflows to efficiently remove lighter materials, such as dust, haulm and sand, from the product flow. By intelligently combining windshifting with the central dust extraction system, a powerful and reliable solution is created that aligns well with the high level of automation in the new factory.
The largest potato dust extraction system we have realized to date
The result is a remarkable project: the delivery of our largest extraction installation for potato processing to date, the PGF 550. This system is designed to handle large air volumes, providing the capacity required for a modern, intensively used production line.
In Wunstorf, the PGF 550 is equipped with:
• special filter cartridges, tailored to the properties of potato dust and fine process contamination;
• a powerful 30 kW fan, ensuring stable and effective extraction;
• a custom connection to the process line, with dust sources enclosed in a targeted manner;
• integrated windshifting for the removal of dust, haulm residues and sand.
This combination ensures that the installation is not only powerful, but also precisely tailored to the specific requirements of Europlant’s process.
Effectively enclosing dust sources
A key part of the design is enclosing dust sources as effectively as possible. The photos show how we enclosed various transfer and processing points to prevent dust from spreading freely through the area. By directing the airflows in a targeted way, dust is captured immediately at the point where it is generated.
This approach contributes to:
• a cleaner production environment;
• reduced dust deposits on machines and surrounding structures;
• more efficient removal of unwanted material;
• a sustainable and future-proof layout of the processing line.
A future-oriented solution for a modern site
The new Europlant site in Wunstorf has been designed with efficient, automated and future-proof potato processing in mind. Our extraction solution fits seamlessly into this approach. By working closely with the customer from the earliest process phase, we developed an installation that is technically powerful and fully integrated with the complete processing line.
We would like to thank EUROPLANT Pflanzenzucht GmbH for their renewed trust. Following the project in Wietzendorf, we are proud to once again contribute to a high-quality Europlant facility. With the PGF 550 in Wunstorf, we are supporting a modern processing environment with a powerful, reliable and custom-made dust extraction solution.
