Milling male kiwifruit flowers to remove the anthers is the first step in extracting pollen for artificial pollination. After the flowers are milled and the anthers are separated from the petals and other flower materials, the anthers are collected and then loaded onto trays for drying. Traditionally three mills were connected by conveyor belts to move the flowers between them for each stage of the milling process, taking up valuable time and floor space.
Fraser Gear’s revolutionary Tri-mill accelerates the kiwifruit flower milling process by integrating three mills into one compact, highly efficient machine.
The Tri-mill offers a faster, more streamlined solution. It utilizes three distinct milling heads within a single drum to process the flowers, depositing the pollen-filled anthers directly onto a conveyor belt. This eliminates the need for multiple mills and manual handling, saving both time and space while reducing the risk of wastage.
The Tri-mill also includes a sorting table and a variable-speed in-feed conveyor to control the flow of flowers. Its design allows for easy storage during the off-season, and it’s simple to clean and maintain, helping to minimize downtime and reduce overall maintenance costs.
The Tri-mill can process approximately 250kg of male flowers per hour.