Used machines for Celery

About second-hand machines for Celery

Celery is a demanding crop that requires specific machines from harvesting in the field to washing, cutting and packaging for sale. Duijndam Machines has a varying supply of used machines for the cultivation and processing of celery, from proven manufacturers such as Ortomec, Hortech and Joper.

Whether you are looking for a second-hand celery harvester, a washing line or a cutting and packaging machine: at Duijndam Machines you will find well-inspected machines that are ready to deploy quickly. Our machines can be viewed at our premises and are delivered worldwide.

Celery cultivation in the Netherlands and Europe

The Netherlands is one of the most important producers of blanched celery in Europe. Cultivation takes place mainly on light sandy clay and clay soils that drain well. The growing season generally runs from April to November, with early crops being started under plastic tunnels to extend the harvest period.

Alongside Dutch cultivation, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom have large-scale production of blanched celery for the European market.

Demand for efficient harvesting and processing machines is increasing, partly because labour costs are rising and the availability of seasonal workers is under pressure. Mechanised processing offers growing businesses the opportunity to scale up capacity without proportionally increasing staff numbers.

From harvest to sale: the celery processing process

Harvesting and processing celery  – and in particular blanched celery – follows a fixed number of steps. Each step requires the right machine to limit quality loss and guarantee efficient throughput.

Planting

Celery cultivation often begins with transplanting young plants. Vegetable planting machines ensure even plant spacing and efficient planting over large areas. During the growing phase, hoeing machines, soil cultivation machines and other technical cultivation solutions can be deployed to keep the soil in optimal condition and support crop development.

Harvesting

The harvesting machine determines the capacity and quality of the harvest. Used celery harvesters are available as single-row or multi-row variants, self-propelled or trailed. When purchasing a used harvesting machine, the condition of the cutting unit, the transport mechanism and the hydraulic drive are of great importance.

Self-propelled harvesting machines are more manoeuvrable in the field and require less external traction, but demand a larger maintenance budget due to their own engine and driveline. Trailed harvesting machines are generally simpler in construction and cheaper to purchase and maintain, but are dependent on a tractor with sufficient horsepower and hydraulic capacity.

Washing lines and cooling for celery 

After harvesting, celery is washed to remove soil, dirt and any crop protection residues. A pass-through washing machine or hydrocooler rinses the stalks thoroughly clean while the product is simultaneously cooled for a longer shelf life. Good cooling immediately after harvesting is essential to preserve the freshness and crispness of the stalks.

A complete washing line for celery generally consists of the following components:

• Pre-cleaner: removes coarse dirt and caked soil from the stalks before the actual washing unit
• Washing unit: intensive washing with water and brushes or water curtains that clean the surface thoroughly
• Hydrocooler (optional): rapidly cools the product back to storage temperature by immersing or rinsing with cold water
• Dryer/blower line: removes excess water from the product, so it is immediately suitable for packaging

The capacity of a washing line for celery varies from a few hundred to more than a thousand heads per hour, depending on the configuration and throughput speed. When buying a used washing line, the condition of the pumps, spray nozzles, brushes and the drainage system is of great importance. 

Trimming and cutting

Celery stalks are trimmed: excess leaves and the bottom of the head are removed to the desired presentation length. This can be done manually or via an automatic trimming and cutting machine, depending on the scale of processing. A uniform cutting length is a requirement for retailers and foodservice customers. Trimming celery is labour-intensive when done manually. An automatic trimming line takes over this work and delivers a uniform end product, with less dependence on manual personnel. The machine cuts the celery to size and removes excess leaves using rotating knives or cutting discs.

The precise setting of the cutting machine is important: cutting too short leads to loss of saleable product, while cutting too long does not meet the requirements of the retail customer. Modern trimming machines have adjustable cutting positions with which the presentation length can be determined accurately.

Sorting; Sorting machines for celery

After trimming, celery is sorted by weight or size. Retail demands uniform heads, while foodservice and industry apply different specifications. An accurate sorter reduces waste and increases the yield per harvested hectare. For celery, sorting is usually by weight, with different weight classes depending on the destination:

An accurate weight sorter automatically distributes the products to the correct class and leads them to the corresponding packaging line. This reduces labour, increases line speed and ensures a more consistent end product.

Packaging lines for celery

Sorted celery is packaged in film, nets or crates for transport to the customer. For retail packaging, flowpack machines or film machines are often used. Packaging protects the product against drying out and physical damage during transport and storage.

Film packaging (flowpack): Blanched celery is often offered in retail in shrink film or stretch film. This keeps the product fresh longer, counteracts drying out and the product is easily recognisable on the shelf. Flowpack machines pack the heads quickly and uniformly.

Nets or bands: For foodservice and wholesale, celery is sometimes bundled with elastic or packed in a net. This requires less material and is faster, but offers less protection.

Crates and pallet boxes: Unpackaged celery intended for the processing industry or wholesale is loosely filled into crates or pallet boxes. An automatic crate filler or pallet box filler speeds up this process and reduces quality loss from manual stacking.

Cooling and storage

After packaging, celery is stored in cooled rooms at a temperature of 0 to 2 degrees Celsius. Under optimal storage conditions, blanched celery keeps for four to eight weeks. A good palletising machine ensures an efficient and stable stacking arrangement in the cold store.

Why second-hand machines for celery?

New processing lines for celery require a substantial investment. Second-hand machines offer a cost-efficient route to professional processing, provided the machines have been properly inspected and maintained.

At Duijndam Machines, every machine is inspected by our own engineers. Defective parts are replaced and you receive clarity about the condition before purchase. This way you know exactly what you are purchasing, without surprises afterwards. Our supply changes regularly because we actively purchase machines from growing businesses that are renewing, scaling up or stopping.

Duijndam Machines delivers machines to dozens of countries worldwide. We have extensive experience with export to Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, and we guide transport and export documentation from start to finish. Contact us for the current availability of machines for celery.