Snack Food Conveyor Belts – All that and a Bag of Chips

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      Americans are thought to consume 1.2 billion pounds of potato chips per year, with each person consuming an average of 110-120 pounds of potatoes. According to the Snack Food Association that translates to spending $7 billion annually on potato chips.

      From the beginning Americans have been in love with the potato, which is grown in all 50 states. According to traditional story, the original potato chip was created in Saratoga Springs, New York in 1853, by Geaorge Crum. In the 20th century these chips began to be mass-produced for home consumption. Founded in 1910, in the backyard of Apache's Cincinnati, Ohio production facility − Mike-Sells Potato Chip Company is believed to be the oldest potato chip company in the US.

      In Western countries potato chips are a predominant part of the snack food market, with the global potato chip market generating total revenues of $16.49 billion in the US in 2005. This accounted for 35.5% of the $46.1 billion total savory snacks market in that year.

      Apache offers a variety of flat black rubber and PVC belting, profiled top covers, and cleated belts for harvesters, transporters, collectors, conveyors, pilers and scoops. Once in the processing facility, the potatoes move throughout the building on a variety of belts.  
      Potato Processing Belt
      These belts can include our Polyester White Nitrile Cover x Friction belts in a 2-ply or 3-ply, as well as our 2-ply 100# Monafilament Blue Urethane Cover x Rice Pattern, and a variety specs from our Volta product line:

      Other types of snack chips go through a similar production process, including Ritz, Lays, Doritos, Fritos, and Orville Redenbacher − five of the top-selling snack brands of 2013.
      Dorito BeltTortilla Chip Belt
      Once the chips are processed and ready, they move to a line called a vertical form-fill and seal conveyor. Here they drop down into the bag and it goes down through two of our custom covered products with a heavy grip, soft durometer rubber material. The proper air is set to the bag and heat knives at the bottom seal the top and bottom of the bags. They are then off to be boxed and sent to the grocer for our consumption. Although we are discussing the potato chip, this process also applies to all kinds of snack foods (tortilla chips, popcorn, pork rinds, etc.)

      Illustration of Chip Bagging Process    Specialty & Custom Belt Fabrications

      Some OEMs of the form fill and seal conveyor are Hayssen, Woodman-Klicklok, Rovema, Bosch, and Matrix.