Stackable Potato Chips

Raw materials blending.

Snacks such as stackable potato chips are often made with a mix of different raw materials, depending also on the consumption needs of each specific market.

To achieve a balanced product in line with the required recipes, it is necessary to be able to mix raw materials with different specific weights homogeneously (mainly potato based ingredients such as flakes or potato starches), so as not to create imbalances within the finished product. From this point of view, GEA technologies mix raw materials through an electronic dosing system, which can be programmed according to the desired recipe allowing a high level of precision.

Dose, mixe and detect any metals

In order to obtain a homogeneous finished product, it is necessary that the mix is made without the presence of lumps and with the right degree of hydration.

GEA's dosing and mixing technologies, realized in stainless steel, ensure proper dosing of both the raw material and the hydration level of the dough, while also guaranteeing that there are no metal presences in it thanks to the use of a conveyor belt equipped with a metal detector, so that the manufactured product is kept safe at all times. 

Sheeting and forming

When we eat a potato chip, the first perceived sensation is that related to the texture of the potato chip, its crispness on the bite. In order to manage the right level of crunchiness, it is essential to control the thickness of the sheet with the utmost precision and uniformity.

For this, GEA technologies allow the dough to be processed into a continuous sheet while maintaining an extremely calibrated thickness depending on the recipe used. In addition, after being cut to the desired shape, our technologies ensure that waste is kept to a minimum by reusing the excess sheet of dough by sending it back, grinded, to the beginning of the process.

Deoiling and flavoring

GEA's flavoring systems made of steel to ensure hygiene and ease of cleaning, allow, following an initial phase of removing excess oil from post-frying chips, to distribute the flavor uiniformly over the product, eliminating waste through a system of reusing the waste seasoning and flipping the chips without causing breakage to prepare them for packaging. 

Succeed in improving efficiency, profitability, and versatility. 

The GEA xTru Twin series of extruders adapts perfectly to any requirement or need: barrel and screw configuration are made-to-order and designed based on process requirements. As a result, every need in terms of production capacity, product type and footprint is catered for with a GEA xTru Twin extruder.

The new high-capacity twin-screw extruders are able to increase productivity by up to 40%. GEA engineers have used their experience and know-how to increase the cross-sectional area, rotation speed and pitch of the screws on the new machines, while maintaining the extruder footprint and screw length. This also allows customers to upgrade existing machines without buying a new machine or changing their plant layout.

GEA xTru Twin extruders can be used to create lines that enable quick switchover between production of flaked cereals and shaped cereals, guaranteeing high hourly production capacities.

Create a new breakfast experience

Start every day with a new product: thanks to the different machines you can include in your breakfast cereals full processing line, you can rapidly switch from flaked cereals to shaped cereals production, including co-extruded articles.

GEA has the knowhow and technology to equip customers with tools that will kickstart any product line and any success story.

Pellets technology: from snack to breakfast

Taking advantage of the extreme versatility of GEA xTru Twin extruders, GEA has developed a product that combines breakfast cereal processing with the countless benefits of snack pellet technology.

Chocolate multilayers are a brand new breakfast experience that combines the crunchiness of a snack with the sweetness and energy of breakfast: three layers for a pleasant mouthfeel, improved absorption of milk (or vegetable beverage), and an optimal nutritional profile given by the total absence of fat.

A revolutionary product technologically rooted in GEA strong processing knowledge for snack pellets, the starting point for a new way of thinking about the production of breakfast cereals.