Customer Success Story: Rebuilding Stronger with a Gentler Approach to Mussel Processing

Following a devastating fire that destroyed one of its processing facilities, Atlantic Aqua Farms Ltd. in Canada was faced with more than replacing lost equipment. The company saw the opportunity to redesign part of its production process and invest in technology that would deliver higher product quality and greater processing efficiency. To support this ambition, Atlantic Aqua Farms partnered with us – Tummers Food Processing Solutions – to develop a customized washing solution for the first stage of live mussel processing.

The Challenge

Multiple product drops and an inefficient cleaning process resulted in unnecessary product handling and made it difficult to effectively remove mud, jelly and seaweed.

Atlantic Aqua Farms was looking for a solution that would clean the mussels more thoroughly while handling the product as gently as possible. At the same time, the new installation needed to integrate seamlessly into the production process and meet specific operational requirements.

Engineering a tailor-made solution

Every processing line is different, which is why our approach started with understanding the customer’s process and requirements.

After Atlantic Aqua Farms visited one of our Drum Washer (barrel washer) installations in Europe, our engineering teams began working closely together to develop the best solution. During an intensive design phase of approximately eight weeks, we translated the customer’s specific requirements into a tailor-made installation.

One of the key design challenges was creating an effective drainage system capable of removing mud, jelly and seaweed while maintaining optimal washing performance in a seawater environment. At the same time, the washing process had to remain gentle enough to protect the live mussels throughout the first processing stage.

The final solution combines a Tummers Drum Washer with a Delta Roller Spreader, designed to process approximately 10t/hour of product. By allowing the mussels to gently rub against each other during the washing process, the system delivers an effective clean while minimizing unnecessary product stress.

Delivering measurable improvements

The new installation has significantly improved the first stage of processing. Compared to the previous system, the mussels leave the washer cleaner, shinier and with considerably less mud, jelly and other natural contaminants. This provides a much better starting point for the remainder of the production process and contributes to a higher overall product quality.

Atlantic Aqua Farms is also monitoring improvements in the ratio between high-quality product and product losses, demonstrating the positive impact of the new washing solution. Besides improving product quality, the installation has proven to be highly reliable and easy to operate and maintain. As Atlantic Aqua Farms describes the result:

“The installation is highly effective, easy to operate, and simple to maintain.”

Built through collaboration

For Tummers Food Processing Solutions, this project demonstrates that successful process improvements start with understanding the customer’s challenges.

Rather than supplying standard equipment, Tummers worked alongside Atlantic Aqua Farms throughout the engineering process to develop a solution tailored to its specific production environment and quality objectives.

“This project is a great example of how close collaboration leads to better processing solutions. By combining Atlantic Aqua Farms’ product knowledge with our engineering expertise, we developed a washing system that not only replaces the previous installation but significantly improves the overall process.”

The result is more than a replacement for equipment lost in the fire. It is a future-proof washing solution that helps Atlantic Aqua Farms produce a cleaner, higher-quality product while supporting efficient and reliable daily operations!

Tummers. A Foodera Technologies brand.

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