Bunch stripper
Separates fruit from empty bunches after sterilisation, in a rotating barred drum.
What this machine does
The stripper separates the fruit from the stalk of the sterilised bunch. The rotating drum subjects the bunches to repeated impacts against the bars: the fruit, whose attachment has been weakened by sterilisation, comes away and passes between the bars while the empty bunches continue to the outlet. The efficiency of the station is measured by the proportion of fruit left attached to the empty bunches, which is a direct loss of raw material.
That proportion depends first on the quality of sterilisation: insufficiently treated bunches do not strip, whatever the drum setting. It then depends on rotational speed and residence time. The empty bunches removed are not waste: rich in potash, they are a valuable agronomic amendment for the plantations, or a fuel after drying. Their removal route must therefore be organised from the design stage.
See the sector Oil palmAt a glance
- ReferencePAL-EGR
- SectorOil palm
- PurposeSeparates fruit from empty bunches after sterilisation, in a rotating barred drum.
A detailed PDF data sheet will be available in the document centre once produced.
The parts that do the work
Rotating barred drum
Repeated impacts detaching fruit from the stalk, with bar spacing matched to fruit size.
Adjustable speed and slope
Controls the residence time of the bunches in the drum.
Fruit outlet
Collected under the drum and transferred to the digester.
Empty bunch outlet
Discharged at the end of the drum to agronomic or energy recovery.
Technical data and configurations
| Characteristic | Indicative value |
|---|---|
| Indicative throughput | 0.5 to 5 t/h of sterilised bunches |
| Installed power | 5.5 to 22 kW |
| Drum speed | adjustable to how the material behaves |
| Fruit left on bunches | to be minimised, checked by sampling |
| Structure | treated steel, replaceable bars |
| Outlets | fruit / empty bunches separated |
| Feed | by cage tipper or conveyor from the steriliser |
| Safety | transmission guards and feed protection |
These are usual design ranges for this type of machine, intended to guide early thinking. The contractual characteristics of the equipment actually manufactured — throughputs measured at acceptance, absorbed power, real footprint and weight — are established by the SOTIC design office and stated in the technical offer.
Available configurations
- Several drum lengths according to the residence time sought.
- Manual, tipper or conveyor feeding.
- Empty bunch handling equipment to composting or boiler.
Installation requirements
- Sited directly at the steriliser outlet: bunches must be stripped hot.
- Rigid block or frame, the drum generating substantial alternating forces.
- Empty bunch removal route properly sized: their volume is considerable.
- Washable floor with collection of oily drips.
Maintenance and safety at the workstation
A machine lasts as long as its maintenance does. The points below appear in the preventive maintenance plan handed over at acceptance and are covered during operator training.
Preventive maintenance
- Check bar wear and spacing.
- Check the support rollers and the drum drive.
- Periodic removal of fibrous deposits that accumulate and unbalance the drum.
- Monitor the proportion of fruit left on empty bunches, a direct performance indicator.
Safety
- Never enter the drum without full isolation.
- Protected feed area: bunches are heavy and hot.
- Thermal protective equipment when handling sterilised bunches.
Before ordering this machine
By taking a sample of empty bunches at the outlet and counting the fruit still attached. This simple check, done once per shift, immediately reveals a drift — almost always attributable to sterilisation rather than to the stripper itself. It is a good example of an indicator that points to the upstream station.
They can be valorised in two ways: as an amendment spread on the plantation, where their potash content is useful, or as a fuel after drying, in a boiler designed for that type of biomass. The choice depends on the distance to the plantations and on the site's energy needs. What must not happen is for them to pile up near the mill.
Request a quote: Bunch stripper
Tell us the throughput you are aiming for, the material to be processed and the energy available on your site: we come back with a reasoned configuration and a price, rather than a catalogue rate.
- Technical answer: we first check that this machine genuinely matches your need.
- Tailored configuration: size, drive, options and wear parts defined with you.
- Complete pricing: equipment, transport, erection, commissioning and training.
- Next steps: civil works, connections and maintenance where required.
First reply target: 48 working hours.
Other machines in the Oil palm
Bunch steriliser
Steam treatment of bunches: the operation that sets the acidity of the entire production.
Palm fruit digester
Heated mixing that breaks down the mesocarp and ruptures the oil-bearing cells.
Palm oil press
Mechanical extraction by reducing-pitch screw, with counter-pressure adjustable while running.
Oil filter
Clarifies crude oil by filtration, before storage or refining.