Packing technology first of its kind in Australia

Two cutting edge automated packing lines being purpose-built in the Netherlands for d’VineRipe’s 8.2 hectare truss tomato facility in South Australia will incorporate the first technology of its kind used in glasshouse production in Australia.

The $30 million project is a collaboration between leading fresh produce marketing company Perfection Fresh, agribusiness investment manager Timbercorp Limited and senior horticulturalist and glasshouse specialist Greg Prendergast.

Perfection Fresh’s national value-add manager Dwayne Millard said the packing technology, currently being manufactured by world leading product and material handling systems supplier Viscon, of Holland, had been designed to maximise output while minimising production costs.

“We started with a standard footprint of the world’s best available models, analysed the capabilities of up to 30 variances and process mapped the final design to ensure efficient flow and volume,” Mr Millard said.

Perfection Fresh had drawn from considerable experience gained in operating five significant value-add facilities around Australia to source the technology, he said. “Due to this experience, we have a deep understanding of production flow and how to eliminate bottle necks and unnecessary manual handling during fresh produce packaging,” Mr Millard said.

He said d’VineRipe’s packing lines would comprise an automated bulk line for produce weighing up to five kilograms and a pre-packing line for smaller quantities weighing up to one kilogram. The bulk line was capable of producing 25 five kilogram trays a minute while the pre-packing line had the capacity to process 84 packs of 500g per minute.

“With the bulk line, the produce will come from the glasshouse in five kilogram trays before being automatically destacked, checked and weighed at five stations by packing staff who will add or subtract fruit to minimise overpacking and tag the trusses. This will be the only manual handling part of the process,” he said.

“Produce sent to the pre-packing line will arrive in different sizes and be sent to 28 manned stations where it will be placed on trays and weighed before being flow wrapped, check weighed, automatically labelled, packed into cartons, strapped and then sent to cold rooms in preparation for despatch.”

Viscon had been selected as packing provider because of its 30 years’ experience in automated efficiencies coupled with the fact the Dutch were the world leaders in glasshouse construction and technology, Mr Millard said.

The packing lines will be assembled prior to transportation in early June, disassembled, and packed into containers and shipped. Viscon and its Australian-based representative Hortraco, with two d’VineRipe staff, are expected to take up to six weeks to install the equipment.

d’VineRipe is expected to employ about 24 people in the packing facility with a total of 80 jobs generated by the project as a whole, Mr Millard said.

The facility is expected to produce 5,000 tonnes of truss tomatoes a year to address a shortfall in domestic production. Fruit processed at the plant will be despatched to Perfection Fresh’s retail customer’s distribution centres and central markets in every state.

As the single largest glasshouse built in one stage in Australia, the facility will incorporate a co-generation plant, evaporative cooling system and the largest panes of strengthened glass so far used in glasshouse construction in Australia. van der Hoeven greenhousebuilders of Holland is building the glasshouse at Two Wells, north of Adelaide.

d’VineRipe managing director Greg Prendergast said the first four hectares had now been erected with glazing nearing completion. A service shed was also under construction and the heating system was being installed. The first harvest was expected to take place in October, he said.

Contacts:

Mr Dwayne Millard, National value-add manager
Perfection Fresh Australia Pty Ltd - telephone (02) 9763 1877

Mr Greg Prendergast, General Manager
d’VineRipe Pty Ltd - telephone (08) 8523 0938

Mr Michael Worthington, General Manager new business
Timbercorp Limited - telephone (03) 8615 1256

OR Ms Linda Brucesmith,
Aqua Public Relations - telephone (07) 3352 7220

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