Australia's Eagle View Orchard says Oxea's technology helps maintain optimal freshness and quality of top fruit, extending the life of the harvest.
At Eagle View Orchard in Killup, Western Australia, Oxair’s specialist nitrogen generating technology is being used in controlled atmosphere cold rooms to preserve apples and pears after harvest.
Oxair's gas separation experts use PSA technology with nitrogen to extend the life of harvested fruit. Using a natural solution, Oxair nitrogen generators reduce the oxygen content in the cold storage compartment, slowing respiration to maintain optimal freshness.
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Oxair says its machines are designed to suit customers' individual requirements. Eagleview's machine can process 20M^3/hour of 99 percent nitrogen extracted from the air using membrane technology.
“Using membrane technology, inert gas can be produced at low pressure, eliminating the safety hazards associated with the use of high-pressure gas cylinders or bulk cryogenic liquefied gas,” the company said. “Accessing nitrogen in this way also keeps running costs low, offering savings of up to 50% compared to traditional supply methods.”
Diane Fogliani of Eagle View commented, “Generators are essential to our operation. Our previously rented Oxea generators have been reliable for many years, so it made sense to invest in a permanent solution. At Eagle View we have been producing fruit for 40 years and our aim has always been to produce the highest quality fruit possible. Oxea's technology helps us maintain the utmost freshness and quality.”
The area of the controlled atmosphere storage space currently being supplied with nitrogen is approximately 700m3, and Oxiar says the unit purchased by Eagleview Orchard can run a much larger operation very efficiently, leaving plenty of room to expand the operation into the orchard without the need for additional generators.
“Nitrogen delivery using membrane technology is a highly practical and cost-effective solution for a wide range of applications, perfect for keeping fruit and vegetable crops fresh,” said David Cheeseman, engineer at Oxea. “We're pleased to have worked with the Eagle View Orchards to provide them with this hassle-free, reliable technology.”
