Improving the efficiency of guacamole processing

MasoSine Certa sinusoidal pumps from Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG) are enabling food producers to keep pace with the growing demand for pre-prepared guacamole.

Guacamole is both thick and contains solid pieces of avocado, neither of which is problematic for Certa sine pumps thanks to their effective yet gentle handling capabilities.

Unlike traditional pumps with rotors that cut through the fluid, Certa’s sinusoidal rotor gently carries fluid through the pump to reduce shear. The fully CIP-capable pumps are designed to deliver high suction capability that can transfer foods with viscosities of up to 8 million cP, at flow rates up to 99,000 L/h. In addition, energy consumption can be reduced by up to 50% when handling high-viscosity foods such as guacamole.

The MasoSine Certa technology is used in two stages of guacamole production. Firstly, the pumps transfer avocado pulp to the mixers, before larger Certa models are deployed to transfer the product to the filling stations. At this stage, one of the benefits of MasoSine pumps is their ability to maintain the shape and integrity of the avocado chunks — and small pieces of tomato and onion — which are sometimes part of the mix.

The addition of these soft vegetable and fruit pieces would present a problem for most pump types; however, the low shear and gentle action of a MasoSine pump maintains the integrity of the avocado and additional ingredients. Crucially, the process doesn’t affect the viscosity of the final product. The result is faster production speeds and, thanks to the inherently hygienic design of pumps, the process cleanliness is assured. According to the company, their customers have also reported reductions in maintenance requirements and downtime.

Having convinced several guacamole producers of the benefits available when using MasoSine Certa technology for transferring avocado pulp to the mixers and filling machines, the Watson-Marlow team is now talking to the same manufacturers about solutions for the next stage in the process — filling individual product portions.

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