IMA AS SNACKMASTER

When the R&D department at chip manufacturer Pringles develops new flavors, they are first tested in consumer surveys. To do this, they produce samples with different seasonings and combinations. The flavors that are well-received by the market are then put into production.

Until now, these samples were mainly produced by hand. It was a labor-intensive process in which the chips were heated in a regular oven, then placed on a conveyor belt where a small dispensing system sprinkled the spices on them, and finally, they had to be placed into boxes by hand.

IMA & Verhaert designed a machine that does all of this automatically: the chips are placed on the conveyor belt, seasoned, and drop into a box at the end. It’s possible to switch between flavors more quickly, and the heating technology ensures that the flavors are applied more effectively.

An additional challenge in developing a machine for the food industry is hygiene. That means no nooks or crannies—everything must be perfectly cleanable. Our design is easy to disassemble, and most parts fit right into the dishwasher.

Since the machine needs to be easily accessible, safety was also an additional consideration.

Tim Vandeberghe – R&D; Kellogg’s – Lead Food Designer:

“Smooth and professional collaboration during these times of the coronavirus pandemic has helped ensure that we can now respond much more quickly, accurately, and in larger quantities to sample requests needed for flavor development, consumer research, sales purposes, etc. We are very satisfied with IMA’s quality, flexibility, and timely delivery. The IMA team takes a solution-oriented approach and sticks to all agreements made.”

Snackmasters!

Maybe you also saw the Pringles factory on the show "Snackmasters" on VTM? We certainly feel like the "snackmasters" of this project! Watch the video.