Producing pesto in large quantities was a challenge for a food company from Cape Town. Existing machines that addressed this need was costly and could only be imported from overseas.
The Product Development Technology Station (PDTS) assisted the client who wanted to produce pesto in bulk. Small scale machines was previously used, but the request was to improve efficiency and capacity. This was done by manufacturing a local alternative of the Pesto Pot.
Research done by the PDTS confirmed that similar machinery was not produced in South Africa and imports were costly. The station then started to design a machine that solved the problem and came up with a concept that suited the client, after which a detailed design of the machine and manufacturing followed.
An extra challenge was to use material, for example certain steel, that can be used without issues in weather conditions close to the coast. The material also needed to be safe and food friendly, as the machine is used in the food production industry. For this purpose the station received special training from an expert in the food industry in order to design and manufacture a suitable Pesto Pot.
The machine consists of four major parts, the blades, pot, lid and tilting wheel, each addressing certain needs.
The pot has three blades, which are stacked over each other forming a 120 degree angle between them, rotating at a constant speed. It can take large quantities and the lid is hinged on the main frame for opening and closing the pot. The tilting wheel helps tilt the pot when pouring out pesto and for cleaning purposes.