On 01.01.2020, Bratzler & Co. BV was renamed FRUITSOLUTE BV. In parallel to the name change, a comprehensive strategic realignment was carried out at the Dutch location in Poeldijk.
FRUITSOLUTE will from now on act as a service provider for exotics (avocados and mangoes) and kiwis, offering their ripening, sorting, packaging and logistics "With FRUITSOLUTE's processes, we are seamlessly following on from the good work done in the origins. Over the past 17 years, we have gradually built up the prerequisites for this", explains Thorsten Blasius, the company's managing director.
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The target group ranges from food retail customers to importers without their own distribution to larger distributors, fresh-cut suppliers or producers from overseas who want to market their goods themselves. "In recent years we have increasingly specialised in mangoes, avocados and kiwis and have the corresponding capacities and expertise. Every customer gets the assurance that we really know our products," explains Rick Post, operations manager at FRUITSOLUTE.
Managing Director Thorsten Blasius (l) and Operations Manager Rick Post at the loading ramps of the site.
FRUITSOLUTE BV can process not only conventionally grown fruit, but organic products as well. FRUITSOLUTE also relies heavily on the use of non-plastic components such as paper inserts or cardboard trays, which can also be purchased on a grass-paper basis if required.
View of the three sorting lines for mangoes and avocados: The optimum cycle rate of the large sorting lines is 34,000 avocados/hour and 26,500 mangoes/hour at 70% capacity.
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Differentiated and targeted ripening
Once the fruit has arrived at FRUITSOLUTE, it is subjected to an intensive incoming goods inspection, the results of which are fully documented and made available to the customer. Only after this inspection do the next steps in the process follow. Parallel to the change of name, the ripening capacity at the high-tech site has also been considerably expanded. "In addition to the previous 19 ripening chambers, 10 new ripening cells are now available, which represent a useful addition. These are 30 percent smaller than the existing ripening chambers. We see the advantage of the new chambers in the fact that a more differentiated ripening than before is possible," explains Post.
This means that more homogeneous lots can be formed and more specific reactions to the product conditions can be made. The large number of ripening chambers gives FRUITSOLUTE more scope to work even more efficiently towards customer specifications at an early stage of the process. A welcome side-effect of homogeneous lots in the maturing process is reduced downtime and more efficient processes in the subsequent sorting and packaging stages.
View into a ripening chamber for exotic plants: More differentiated ripening leads to fewer failures, more efficient processes and a longer shelf life.
The incoming packaging is either disposed of at the site, reused or recycled by the packaging supplier.
The demand for carton inserters is constantly increasing. The packaging depends on the sales market and the respective clientele. In general, there is a tendency for the market to use more resource-saving material.
Promising future
FRUITSOLUTE BV places great value on uncompromising and efficient solutions, emphasises Blasius. "Our primary aim is to offer customers a complete service package from a single source, from ripening, sorting and packaging to logistics. In addition, agreements can also be made that relate to parts of the process chain."
"The clear focus on selected products allows us to create precisely the right conditions. We do not want to compromise on our chosen setting for our fruit and will only offer services for other products if they can be integrated into existing, specialized processes. This applies, for example, to papayas, ginger or even passion fruit," says Blasius. 
"FRUITSOLUTE's motto is cost and innovation leadership. As in the past, we will react to market developments in anticipation and make the appropriate investments."
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For more information:
Fruit Solute BV
Thorsten Blasius
ABC Westland 574
NL – 2685 DG Poeldijk
Tel: +31 (0) 174 . 700 . 800
contact@fruitsolute.com
www.fruitsolute.com