For butternut squash lines: innovation in food processing with PND
“The fresh butternut squash market is expected to grow from USD 2.89 billion in 2025 to USD 2.99 billion in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 3.53 billion by 2031. This growth is driven by a shift in demand from whole-fruit sales to processed formats, functional ingredients and industrial feedstocks”, according to market analysis by Mordor Intelligence. At PND, they are always in step with market trends. PND offers a wide range of machines for butternut squash processing, which can be configured into production lines that are perfectly tailored to customers’ needs.
Let’s take a detailed look at these.
The PREP-WASH, a washer equipped with a recirculation pump and a water filtering system, is a specific tool for washing fresh fruit. A stream of water pushes the fruit, which is moved by the bubbling motion, onto a modular conveyor belt that allows the fruit to be treated in water.
Then comes the PL1DZ, a peeler also available with 2 and 4 stations, which ensures smooth and uniform peeling, even with non-calibrated or irregularly sized products, thanks to adjustment functions on the spindle and blade.
The operator manually loads the fruit into the dedicated holder, where a mechanical system peels the outside carefully and accurately. The larger structure means that taller fruits can be processed while maintaining the same performance and quality standards. All components are easily interchangeable and the parts in contact with the product are food-grade certified.
The semi-automatic wedger, PWS, made of AISI 304 stainless steel and exclusively mechanical, is very easy to maintain and clean. The operator loads the fruit by pressing two buttons and activating the cutting head. It is possible to cut 4 to 6 slices, depending on requirements, which end up on the output belts without affecting their physical and organoleptic integrity. The machine is equipped with two output belts that move the product along to the next stage.
The optional AIRCUBE chunker, which processes 6 units per minute, is designed for cutting into cubes of various sizes, offering a robust and precise solution. With its reinforced structure and cross-blade system, the machine ensures a clean uniform cut. 
The operator manually loads the butternut squash into the dedicated housing, where the push mechanism guides the product through the cutting grid and turns it into chunks. The interchangeable blades allow the cube size to be adjusted according to production needs, making it ready to be packaged or further processed. This chunker tackles one of the most complex problems in the industry: how to ensure uniform cutting of a vegetable with a hard skin, compact and fibrous flesh and often irregular and elongated dimensions.
Measuring less than a metre, the machine is made entirely of stainless steel and all parts in contact with the product are food-grade certified, ensuring safety and hygiene throughout the process.
Let’s move on to the brand new PND machine: the SEEDY. Small and compact, this machine is designed to remove seeds and filaments from the butternut squash, after cutting it lengthwise in half or opening it from the bottom. It is a single-head machine that processes about 10 units per minute and is equipped with a tool that is activated by light pressure combined with a foot pedal safety system. It has a removable hopper for ease of cleaning and sanitising, and a washing system that may be used, if necessary, during processing.
PND butternut squash lines are now in demand across all continents, with the highest sales being in England, Spain, Switzerland, the USA and Italy. In the case of the latter, we should mention Azienda Agricola Don Camillo, located in Brescello (RE), which in early Autumn 2025 saw the installation of a major plant, designed and built in just four months.
Over the past 25 years, PND has earned the trust of both industry technicians and customers, who recognise its machines as irreplaceable partners. The company’s customer-centric approach means that it can always find the right solutions for its buyers.
Visit www.pndsrl.it to browse the range of machines available and view the trade shows where the company has been and will be exhibiting. For more information: info@pndsrl.it.
