Confectionery manufacturers today are under increasing pressure to improve productivity, reduce product giveaway and waste, manage skilled labour challenges and respond to growing product variety, all while maximising the value of existing production assets.
To help address these challenges, TNA has introduced three major innovations to its tna mogul platform, delivering measurable improvements in efficiency, flexibility and sustainability across starch-moulded confectionery production.
New systems target efficiency gains
The latest innovations include a patented Starch Filling Containment System, an Inline Tray Weighing System and a Top-Driven Pump with CIP (Clean-in-Place) hoppers. Together, these advancements help manufacturers optimise operations, reduce operator intervention and improve overall equipment effectiveness, while enabling upgrades to existing TNA, legacy NID and even non-TNA installations.
The patented Starch Filling Containment System replaces traditional compressed-air starch filling with spring-loaded sealing pads that seal directly against the tray edge. By preventing starch spillage during filling, levelling and transport, the system significantly reduces starch loss, compressed-air consumption and cleaning requirements while creating a cleaner, safer production environment.
The Inline Tray Weighing System further enhances process control by weighing every tray before and after depositing without interrupting production. Continuous real-time monitoring automatically adjusts pump stroke to maintain target weights, reducing product giveaway, improving consistency and eliminating the need for manual sampling.
The new Top-Driven Pump and CIP hopper design improves accessibility, hygiene and maintenance efficiency by relocating drive components to the top of the frame. Toolless piston bar changes, servo-driven valve bar technology and improved hopper design simplify operation and help reduce downtime. Manufacturers can save up to 25 minutes per changeover, increasing available production time in high-mix manufacturing environments.
Retrofit design supports existing lines
Importantly, these innovations have been designed to support retrofit installation, enabling confectionery manufacturers to modernise existing assets rather than undertake costly full-line replacements. The result is a smarter, more sustainable approach to capacity improvement that delivers immediate operational benefits while protecting long-term investment.
By combining automation, process control, hygiene improvements and asset modernisation into a single platform, the tna mogul represents a significant advancement in confectionery manufacturing technology.
