(Nomination for 2011 Aurea Award): Onion slicer - Automatic machine for slicing vegetables

Engineers at Belgrade-based company StanTech have constructed the first automatic machine that slices and packs 1 ton of onion per hour, in the production of which over EUR 200,000 have been invested. Onion Slicer has already been delivered to one of the largest onion processing companies in the United States of America - Gill’s onions from California, while preparations for its appearance in the markets of Russia and Turkey are underway. Onion slicing is ten times faster with Onion Slicer. Instead of 14 people doing the difficult and time-consuming job of slicing, the whole slicing process now requires only 2 people to operate the machine. They now only need to put onion on the conveyor belt and, at the end of the process, it exits the machine packed in special bags. Another machine washes and cleans onion.

This machine has a significantly bigger capacity than other similar machines in the market. One of the most important innovations in the structure of Onion Slicer is the fact that all joints are welded and polished. That is very important because of the purpose of the machine since onion is highly sensitive to bacteria development and each bolt would be a potential place for their creation and multiplication. The 1.5-tonne machine has been sold to the U.S. company for about USD 150,000.

Gill’s onion will be supplying fresh-sliced onion in special bags to large restaurant chains, famous cruisers on the west coast of the States, as well as industrial consumers.

INNOVATION

The company StanTech has produced the first automatic onion slicing machine in Serbia, of which capacity is 1 tonne per hour. The first out of seven ordered machines has already been put in operation at the plant of Gill’s onion in California, and the results are excellent. Such machines have a great potential for export to large markets such as Russia, which is why this innovation will be presented at a trade fair in Moscow.

The innovative automatic system created by the Belgrade-based company makes onion slicing more than 10 times faster. In addition to the fact that it significantly reduces the number of required staff who used to manually slice onion in extremely difficult conditions, this machine also brings the precision and quality of slicing to perfection. Operators now only need to put onion on the conveyor belt and, at the end of the process, it exits the machine packed in special bags.

Over EUR 200,000 have been invested in the production plant, tools, newly employed highly qualified operators of CNC processing machines, tools and new workers in the assembly department, as well as computer equipment for engineers at the project bureau.

The complete machine weighs 1.5 tonne and it is made of prochromium, eloxed aluminum and FDA plastic, while all materials are supplied by domestic manufacturers.

The biggest innovation in the structure of Onion Slicer is the fact that all joints are welded and polished. Namely, onion is highly sensitive to bacteria development and each bolt would be a potential place for their creation and multiplication.

StanTech already produces a similar automatic system for tomato slicing and exports it to the U.S. market. So far, over 20 such machines have been produced, three of which are in use in Japan. Tomato Slicer cuts tomato in slices 5.5 mm thick, separates the top and bottom part of each tomato and sends them to a special compartment (to be used in sauce making), and then puts perfect slices in a packaging. One such system is now being produced for a Dutch buyer who supplies tomato to restaurant chains in Western Europe.

The automatic tomato slicing machine Tomato Slicer has been patented in the USA by Ivan Stanojevic, under the patent number 7861629, which can be seen on: www.patentawards.com



SOCIAL UTILITY

Onion Slicer project has enabled creation of 10 new jobs at StanTech. The company has hired two engineers and eight highly qualified metal workers who now work in the Production and Assembly departments.

Besides, five young engineers have got jobs through the First Chance programme and they are now receiving appropriate specialist education and training. StanTech always has open vacancies for mechanical and electrical engineers.

This project has a potential for growth and export to large markets (especially Russia, Turkey...) because it is a high-capacity system. Production of smaller semi-automatic machines of smaller capacity (the kind of which is already being produced for tomato slicing) opens an opportunity for export to smaller markets as well, which would significantly improve Serbia’s export.



FINANCIAL POTENTIAL

The first Onion Slicer, in the production of which over EUR 200,000 were invested, has been sold for about EUR 150,000, and orders have already been placed for six more.

What makes StanTech different from its competitors in surrounding countries is the high capacity of the project bureau and well-organized and equipped production.

StanTech has ensured its presence in the U.S. market, constant export and expansion of activities.

There is a big interest in the new machine and the company has already signed some contracts for the year 2011. The company also produces a similar system for tomato slicing and has three versions of this machine in its offer, all of which are successfully exported. StanTech currently makes one such big machine for a client in the USA and one for a client in Netherlands. Onion Slicer and Tomato Slicer will have their premiere appearance in the market of Russia in 2012. A research of that market is in progress. The company also plans to enter the market of Turkey because its tourist capacities are significant and there are many big consumers in that country.

If Onion slicer is your favorite for the innovative investment of the year, you can vote for this nominee on the official website Aurea 2011.

StanTech d.o.o. Beograd

eKapija.com Beograd