Comparison of Two Locally Made Motorized Plantain Slicers

Abstract

This study focused on comparing two locally designed plantain slicers in other to economically and productively advice small scale chips – producers. The two selected slicing machines were horizontally inclined slicer (HIS) and vertically inclined slicer (VIS). These slicers were carefully chosen and it was ensured they had same power input, motor speed, and slicing blade of equal length. Evaluation result showed that the highest throughput capacity for HIS was 51.16 kg/hr and had an average throughput capacity of 50.10 kg/hr while the highest throughput capacity for VIS was 45.90 kg/hr and had an average throughput capacity of 45.34 kg/hr. The results of the slicing efficiencies showed that a maximum efficiency of 100 %, but had an average efficiency value of 92.84 %, while VIS had a maximum efficiency value of 87 % and an average efficiency value of 83.25 %. From the results of the throughput capacity and the efficiency of the two slicers, it can be concluded that HIS performed better and faster than VIS and is considered the better both economically and productively.