Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) technology is an established process in industrial potato processing, helping manufacturers improve cutting performance, product quality, yield and overall process efficiency. However, potato characteristics can vary significantly depending on variety, season, maturity and storage conditions, as well as during a single production day. These variations can affect treatment requirements and downstream processing performance.

 

Elea´s PiCon range addresses this challenge by moving PEF control from periodic sampling and manual assessment towards continuous, objective inline monitoring. PiCon combines three complementary tools that provide transparency across key stages of potato processing: PEF treatment effectiveness, product flow and distribution, and the use of water, oil and other process resources.

 

What is new?

The innovation lies in combining different sensor technologies and AI-supported analysis within one integrated monitoring concept for PEF-based potato processing. Rather than assessing treatment performance through occasional offline checks, PiCon provides continuous process information during production.

 

PiCon Sense analyses acoustic and vibration signals generated during cutting to assess the effectiveness of the PEF treatment. PiCon Vision uses camera technology and AI-supported image analysis to monitor product flow, product distribution, and belt loading. PiCon Flow monitors relevant oil and water flows and sugar levels to provide greater transparency regarding resource use and process conditions.

 

What added value does the innovation offer the user?

PiCon enables processors to respond more quickly to changing raw material and production conditions. Continuous feedback supports timely process adjustments, more consistent treatment performance and stable product quality.

 

The tools help reduce operator dependency and the need for manual checks while providing objective data for process optimisation. This can support more consistent cutting performance, improved yield, better utilisation of production capacity and reduced process variability. Early identification of irregular product flow, foam formation or deviations in resource consumption can also help prevent inefficient operation and unnecessary downtime.

 

By bringing process information together in a structured and accessible form, PiCon gives operators and production managers greater confidence in day-to-day process decisions.

 

How does the innovation contribute to sustainability and the professionalisation of the potato sector?

PiCon supports more resource-efficient potato processing by helping manufacturers operate PEF treatment and downstream processes under more consistent and resource-efficient operating conditions. Better monitoring of treatment effectiveness, product flow and resource consumption helps identify inefficiencies and opportunities to reduce waste, water use and oil consumption.

 

At the same time, objective real-time process data improves transparency, traceability and standardisation. Process decisions become less dependent on individual operator experience and can instead be based on consistent production data. PiCon therefore contributes to the digitalisation, sustainability and professionalisation of industrial potato processing.

Datum marktintroductie in België (indien nog in ontwikkeling: verwachte lanceringsdatum)
01.04.2027

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The innovation lies in integrating multiple sensor technologies with AI-supported analysis into a single monitoring platform for PEF-based potato processing. Instead of relying on offline measurements, PiCon enables continuous, real-time process insight during production. PiCon Sense evaluates acoustic and vibration signals to assess PEF treatment effectiveness. PiCon Vision combines camera technology and AI-based image analysis to monitor product flow and belt loading. PiCon Flow tracks oil, water and sugar parameters, increasing transparency of resource consumption and process conditions.

Meerwaarde voor de gebruiker (op commercieel vlak, gebruiksvriendelijkheid …)
PiCon helps processors respond quickly to changing raw material and production conditions. Continuous feedback supports timely process adjustments, consistent treatment performance and stable product quality. The tools reduce operator dependency and manual checks while providing objective data for process optimisation. This supports improved cutting performance, higher yield, better capacity utilisation and reduced variability. Early detection of irregular product flow, foam formation and resource consumption deviations helps prevent inefficient operation and unnecessary downtime.

Meerwaarde voor de verdere verduurzaming en professionaliseren van de aardappelbranche
PiCon supports resource-efficient potato processing by helping manufacturers operate PEF treatment and downstream processes more consistently. Improved monitoring of treatment effectiveness, product flow and resource consumption helps identify inefficiencies and opportunities to reduce waste, water and oil use. Real-time process data enhances transparency, traceability and standardisation, enabling decisions to be based on objective production data rather than operator experience. PiCon thus supports the digitalisation, sustainability and professionalisation of potato processing.