Koeltehof Packers has more than doubled its previous capacity through its second packhouse, officially opened this past Friday, a state-of-the-art facility that was designed with the latest technology and energy-saving equipment in mind.
At the opening Patrick Caetano, general manager of the packhouse, called it a “magnificent” facility that will be able to handle about 220t of avocados in a day. Complemented by its first packhouse, Koeltehof can pack 340t of avocados daily. It is also in the process of upgrading the older packhouse.
Koeltehof Packers is situated on Koeltehuis Farm in Kiepersol, Mpumalanga Province, acquired by the RJ Khoza family trust in 2008. The trust represents Dr Reuel Khoza and his family; Dr Khoza is one of South Africa’s most successful and well-known black businessmen.
“Running corporate South Africa is what I do,” said Dr Khoza, former chairperson of state-owned electricity company Eskom as well as of Nedbank, one of South Africa’s largest banks. “Growing avocados and packing avocados I knew nothing about, so for the guidance and support of the growers in the Kiepersol community, especially Jean Minnaar and Mr McQueen Sr, we are very grateful indeed.” He singled out Halls & Sons for their management expertise in the early days of the facility as well as Westfalia, in particular its marketing manager Hans Boyum, “who makes just about everything happen”.
Mumsy and Reuel Khoza cutting the ribbon at the opening
Koeltehof owns an avocado farm and packs its own avocados as well as those of 17 other growers in the area. The new packhouse was necessitated by the growing production of avocados, 80% of which is exported. On the exporting side it packs for Westfalia Marketing, Halls & Sons and The Fruit Farm Group (Katopé). Avocados destined for the local market also go through the facility on behalf of its clients, either to the fresh produce markets or to ripening rooms for sale as ripe-and-ready avocados at retailers like Woolworths. Koeltehof furthermore services avocado processors.
The new packhouse was constructed and project-managed by Blue Cube Construction. The facility has an automated bin tipper as well as automated palletizer “saving the backs of our employees”, according to Caetano.
Koeltehof is particularly proud of its cooling rooms, designed from scratch by White River-based Pro Cooling. Avocados are cooled quicker, brought to 5 or 6°C within 6 to 8 hours, at 95% humidity, shaving about two days off the journey to export markets.
Patrick Caetano, general manager, with Rhodes Abell of Pro Cooling
“The rooms are designed to bring the temperature down quickly through forcing cold air through the pallets. The rooms can hold 14 pallets per room and can do two shifts in 24 hours,” explains Rhodes Abell from Pro Cooling. “Designing everything regarding the cold rooms from scratch, like the flow and docking, and being given a clear canvas, was a privilege, you never get to do that. Koeltehof were great customers. I have no doubt these cold rooms will be financially viable and sustainable.”
Saving energy wherever possible was part of the design brief, since Dr Khoza is chairperson of renewable energy producer Globeleq (there are plans to run the packhouse facility on solar power in future). The cold rooms’ compressors automatically run at various speeds in order to control output, depending on the amount of avocados in the cold rooms, thereby saving electricity when the rooms aren’t full to capacity.
Ozone sterilising treatment
Avocados receive a sterilising ozone treatment before moving to the pack lines, which drastically reduces the amount of fungicide used on the produce.
Caetano said that everything was running well at the new packhouse, save for unforeseen elements like a tiny frog settling itself over the weekend in front of a sensor, bringing operations to a halt.
Dr Khoza spoke briefly on the parlous state of the South African economy, something which worries him greatly. “My sense with the credit downgrade is that our GDP growth will be anything between 0 and 1%.” He added that he remained hopeful because of indications of a growing opposition within the ANC itself to the current leadership, characterised by him as “a leadership lacking moral authority”.
For more information:
Patrick Caetano
Koeltehof Packers
Tel: +27 72 630 7862
Email: info@koeltehofpackers.co.za