Hughes Equipment Introduces Fresh, Fresh-Frozen Market Husker, Corn Cutter Ideal for Low Capacity Processing; Also Announces Leasing

Columbus, WI, July 17, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Hughes Equipment has introduced the Fresh Husker and the Fresh Cutter, two smaller pieces of equipment ideal for low capacity processing of corn and other vegetables and fruit.

The company also now offers equipment leasing and is accepting credit cards for acquisition of all of its innovative food processing equipment and parts.

"After consulting closely with growers and processors on their needs for smaller capacity units, our design engineers came up with two innovative, reliable pieces of equipment the market is sure to embrace."

Ross Lund, Company President

“After consulting closely with growers and processors on their needs for smaller capacity units, our design engineers came up with two innovative, reliable pieces of equipment the market is sure to embrace,” said Ross Lund, company president. “We’re confident that both new food  processing units will reduce labor costs and help local producers increase profits.”

Fresh Husker Design to Provide Clean, High-Profit Ears

The Fresh Husker is designed to gently and efficiently remove husks, providing ears ready for fresh market or fresh frozen sale, according to Lund. It has the capacity of 20 to 30 ears per minute, depending on variety and corn conditions. Husking efficiency is approximately 75 percent in ideal conditions, with shanks removed.

The Fresh Husker can be operated by one person, and can easily be transported. Lockable casters keep the 650-pound husker secure during use.

Along with husking corn, the Fresh Husker removes stems and debris from fruit such as citrus and apples, and vines. It also can remove tops and debris from beets, carrots, onions, potatoes and radishes.

Fresh Cutter Designed for Quick, Clean Cutting

The new Fresh Cutter is the ideal companion of the Fresh Husker, and was designed for commercial operations that need a cutter with fewer features, Lund said.

With the Fresh Cutter, the usual 10 to 30 percent of husked ears that have cosmetic imperfections can now be efficiently cut for fresh or fresh frozen kernel sales or other high end use.

The Fresh Cutter can handle up to 100 ears per minute under normal operating conditions. Husked ears are manually fed into the cutter, removing kernels quickly and cleanly via a rotating six-knife head.

The unit weighs 540 pounds.

“The Fresh Husker and Fresh Cutter will help growers and processors get a better return on their products, and will especially be valued by processors serving the expanding fresh market and the fresh frozen market,” Lund said.

Leasing, Credit Card Acceptance Now Available

Lund also noted that Hughes Equipment now accepts Master Card and Visa for purchases of its food processing equipment and parts, and that equipment leasing is now available.

“We recognize that capital expenditures can be a real challenge for some food processors,” Lund said. “At the same time, we know they want equipment that improves their efficiency and productivity. We can now fulfill those needs via equipment leasing.”

Hughes Equipment’s leasing arrangements offers the following benefits:

• Payment structures to meet customer cash flow needs
• Quick approvals
• 100% + financing to conserve customer cash flow
• Preservation of customers’ bank lines for working capital needs
• Maximizing tax benefits

According to the 2013 Survey of Equipment Finance Activity, produced by Equipment Leasing & Finance Association (ELFA), 55% of all equipment financed is done so at the point of sale.

“We feel that those statistics clearly indicate that our clients desire leasing options. We want to be proactive and provide an alternative, flexible approach,” Lund said.

About Hughes Equipment Company, LLC

Hughes Equipment is a Columbus, Wis.-based manufacturer and international distributor of stainless steel equipment and parts for the food processing industry. Its machinery is used for vegetable, pasta, rice, fruit and root crop processing and preparation. Hughes manufactures cooking, cleaning, conveying, cutting, cooling, filling, husking, metering and snipping machinery. Based on the company’s 50+ years of experience, the food processing experts at Hughes Equipment work as strategic partners to bring efficiencies and higher productivity to their customers.