For most food processors, the quality of the onions they process can be largely out of their control. Onions arrive from multiple growers, across different seasons and storage conditions, sometimes even within the same delivery. Onion size varies, skins can be dry or damp, and just their overall state can differ. Yet production targets, labour availability and customer expectations remain the same.
This variation can create challenges on processing lines. Inconsistent onions may affect peeling, increase the need for manual intervention and slow the process overall. Operators may need to adjust settings more frequently or stop the line to resolve issues, which disrupts flow and reduces efficiency.
Modern onion peeling machines, like the ones we manufacture at M&P Engineering are designed to handle these kinds of inconsistencies. Adjustable parameters allow processors to respond to changes in skin thickness and bulb size without compromising output quality. Consistent airflow and controlled handling help deliver reliable peeling results across a wide range of incoming product, helping maintain stable performance throughout the day.
A well-configured peeling system also reduces reliance on manual trimming. When the machine is producing a clean, consistent peel, operators can focus on monitoring the process rather than correcting defects. This supports steady output and a more predictable production schedule.
While onion inconsistencies, especially when it relates to size, are unavoidable, their impact doesn’t have to be disruptive. The right peeling equipment allows processors to maintain quality, protect yield and keep production running smoothly, even when incoming onions are far from uniform.
M&P Engineering has been manufacturing food production, preparation and filling equipment for many years and offers a range of equipment including its onion peeling machines.
M&P Engineering’s Large Onion Peeling Machine uses a dry peeling process, resulting in no waste slurry. It can peel, top and tail onions with diameters between 45mm and 115mm using its self-adjusting floating knife assemblies. The peeler uses compressed air to remove the skin, resulting in optimum end-product appearance.
The large onion peeler has a raw material input rate of 750kg per hour when working at optimum speed but can be adjusted to suit the needs of the processor.
M&P Engineering also have available a range of freshcut machinery, including our Carousel Grid Cutting Machine and our Radish Top & Tailer.
If you would like to find out more information about our products, speak to a member of the team on +44 (0)161 872 8378 or contact us here.