The world's first self-cleaning and self-sanitizing juicer

The only juicer in the world that cleans and sanitizes itself. “Our new Zitrux juicer is the only juicer in the world that cleans itself. This was the missing key feature for retail in this segment and so this integrated juicing solution can now meet all customer needs,” stated Víctor Bertolín, President…

"We're in Colombia to promote our extraction systems for avocado oil"

"Colombia is one of the countries that is most receptive of novelties. The production of avocados has in fact tripled over the past few years. The fact that hectares are increasing also means that waste is increasing, i.e. those fruits not suitable to be exported due to their grades, aesthetic defects or to their being overripe," reports Riccardo Stillavati, engineer and ex…

UK robotics innovator signs $47 million US deal

North East robotics specialist Wootzano has secured a $47 million contract in the US which it says will be transformative for the company. The County Durham-based designer of systems that can delicately pick up fruit and vegetables to be packaged has signed a three-year agreement with an unnamed…

Researchers continue to find new applications for Agtech device

Orchard researchers are continuing to find new applications for an Agtech device called a ‘Cartographer’ at Agriculture Victoria’s Tatura SmartFarm. Cartographer — invented by AgTech firm Green Atlas — is mounted on an electric All-Terrain-Vehicle at the farm and uses a combination of cameras, scanner,…

"Quality of product has improved, as there is less handling compared to manual operation"

Newtec’s High Speed Container Filler (HSCF) is a big part of Nordic Greens’ optimised procedures as they aim to utilise the benefits of automation, minimise waste and optimise production performance. Product care and optimised packing servicesNewtec’s HSCF optimises the packing and helps maintain the top…

Piet Pannekeet bids an untroubled farewell to JASA

Piet Pannekeet officially bid 'adieu' to JASA Packaging Solutions three years ago. But last week, that was celebrated with a festive farewell. The pandemic delayed this occasion somewhat. Much has since happened, and this Dutch engineering firm launched a new platform for a new generation of packaging…

New solution adds value and ease to machine-harvested blueberries

The global trend towards the machine harvesting of blueberries has brought challenges. Although machine harvesters are faster and less costly than manual picking, they also harvest debris and fruit clusters which cause disruption on packhouse production lines. Machines also harvest unwanted green and red…

New tech brings sustainable water efficiency to stone fruit grower

With water never far from the news in California, there is a pressing need for agriculture to improve efficiencies. At the same time, for Prima® Wawona, some of its sites suffer from salinity and chloride issues and so the search has been on for a solution to help sustainably recover soil health. This…

Pomegranates - an increasingly "automated" fruit

Pomegranate arils are increasingly in demand but, in order for the chain to be sustainable, processes need to be mechanized. "Extracting arils mechanically is now possible thanks to a Futura machine, which is a sturdy yet simple solution," explains Andrea Vitali from CSA Technologies. "It's small, easy…

How the latest packaging solutions help citrus packaging companies improve their profitability

TOMRA Food is a world leader in the manufacture of optical sorting and calibration machines for the food sector. In the citrus sector, TOMRA solutions are already being used in the US, Europe, Australia, South Africa, North Africa, South America, and Asia. There are three TOMRA solutions that are ideal for…

New features introduced for rotary sizing and grading systems

Key Technology, a member of Duravant’s Food Sorting and Handling Solutions group, introduces new features for its rotary sizing and grading systems. This family, which includes the Precision Size Grader (PSG), Rotary Size Grader (RSG) and Sliver Sizer Remover (SSR), enables vegetable, potato and fruit…

New line for delicate fresh produce items introduced

Bulltec srl, in collaboration with Sapore di Romagna, has designed a new system for the filling of punnets with a guaranteed minimum weight suitable for high-value delicate fruits such as apricots, premium plums and kiwifruit. It is also suitable for the new ready-to-eat lines, increasingly demanded by big retail chains and the H&R sector. "Until a short while ago, only manu…

A multi-product sorter with AI capabilities and low operating costs

A multi-product sorter that’s able to work on all sorts of produce, including oblong and irregular shapes. It’s called the Sidewinder. “There is no other machine on the market that can match the throughput of the Sidewinder across the variety of products it can sort,” says Boomer Batchman, CEO of Exeter…

"Greater chance and more frequent frost in Europe drives demand for our machines"

This is the fifth year Swift International is selling and distributing its FrostFans mobile wind machines. "Sales have shown an upward trend over the past four years. We've already sold many machines for delivery in early 2024. They'll be used on renowned farms," Ernst Slabbekoorn says enthusiastically.…

"This machine should boost top-sealed cardboard trays"

The cardboard vs plastic issue remains a hot topic in the fruit and vegetable sector. For a long time, many markets seemed to be heading for a total plastic ban. But since recyclable plastic solutions are increasingly being introduced, that debate is set to continue for some time. Stackpack’s Ronald…

A smart solution for packing small fruits and mushrooms

With advanced electronics, the new line consists of smarter, more interactive machines that can be automatically controlled and customized to the product through sophisticated in-house software. It also takes up less space in the packaging room. "Products like small fruits or mushrooms," TopControl explains,…

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AI-based robots on the rise in Japan agriculture

Smart agriculture is increasingly being employed in Japan, arousing expectations that producers will be able to entrust artificial intelligence with more labor-intensive tasks to alleviate severe labor shortages. Large-scale greenhouse farmers are leading the way, having begun to use AI-equipped robots…

"There is a need to reduce the material used for packaging"

GNA has been manufacturing packaging machines and systems for the protection of loose produce for years. We focused on using only one material, limiting the use of films+trays as much as we could. The process is not easy, considering some products are difficult to manage. Thankfully, VVFS vertical…

Aigen's $12 mln Series A unleashes True-Solar Agriculture Robots

Aigen, an AI-driven robotics company, closed $12 million in Series A financing from leading investor ReGen Ventures along with NEA, Cleveland Avenue, Incite, and Susquehanna Private Equity Investments LLLP. The funding expands Aigen's manufacturing capacity to meet high pre-order demand and create a new…

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Fruit flies might be key to building resiliency in autonomous robots

The National Science Foundation has awarded Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor Floris van Breugel a $2 million grant to adapt autonomous robots to be as resilient as fruit flies. Resiliency in autonomous robotic systems is crucial, especially for robotics systems that are used in disaster…

Lineage expands its European footprint with new state-of-the-art facility in France

Lineage, a prominent temperature-controlled industrial REITs and integrated solutions provider, officially opened its state-of-the-art facility in Harnes, France. The new facility has a footprint of approximately 17.000 square meters – equivalent to over three football fields – and strengthens Lineage’s…

Dubai is a hub for European technologies

About 230 Italian companies are currently participating in the Gulfood Manufacturing fair in Dubai (November 7-9, 2023). Almost all of them are involved in the food sector, including packaging and technologies for fruit selection and processing. Futura is among them, represented by Omar Papi (owner) and…

Online auction on behalf of Kartoffelverarbeitungs GmbH in Hirschfeld (DE)

Later this month, Industrial Auctions will be organizing an online auction on behalf of Kartoffelverarbeitungs GmbH in Hirschfeld (DE). The offer consists of infeed bunkers, peelers, washing machines, sorting and batching machines, slicers, multihead weighers, metal detectors and many more. These are…

Packing line for soft fruit and mushroom sector presented

A busy afternoon at an open day with little chance of talking with customers properly? There must be a different way the folks at Ulma Packaging and Arco Solutions thought. Over the last two weeks, these two Dutch companies organized joint demo days for the soft fruit and mushroom sector at Ulma's…

HEPRO GmbH

HEPRO's asparagus peeling machine wins the German Design Award

The ultra-compact asparagus peeling machine "spargel to go" from HEPRO GmbH has been awarded the German Design Award Special 2023 for 'Excellent Product Design Retail', an internationally recognised seal for design achievements. "The world's smallest asparagus peeling machine - for self-service and…

"Labor shortages drive growth in machinery market"

Dutch company Pack TTI officially moved into its new premises this week. With the move, the machine trader made significant progress, especially regarding warehouse space, which was also needed, explains Christian Oosterlaan. "Automation is an ever-growing trend in the sectors in which we operate. We…

Symach palletiser hits 20 million bags processed at Vos Onions

Will the old palletisers move with us to the new building or will we switch completely to new ones? Arian Vos of Vos Onions from Veen asked himself this question when the new building was completed last year. He eventually chose to move the two existing Symach machines and buy a third palletiser. That…

Harnessing pomegranate’s growing popularity through advanced machine system

Pomegranate seeds have experienced a surge in popularity and robust demand growth in recent years, thanks to studies highlighting their exceptional nutritional value. Juran Technologies' ArilSystem© is an industrial system for extracting pomegranates in small and large volumes of high quality under…

Water Dynamics ushers in new era of irrigation efficiency

One of the pioneers of broad scale mesclun mixed salad production in Australia is introducing an automated, radio-controlled irrigation system at its properties in northwest Victoria. The Mait monitoring and control system – tailored for the customer’s optimised water use and production needs by…

"With the press of a button, from 200g iceberg lettuce to 600g spinach"

"Our recent growth hasn't been slight; it's been explosive," begins Eduard de Haan of JASA Packaging Solutions. Customers and business partners can see that firsthand at the demo week, this Dutch company will organize in week 46. The event also marks founder Piet Pannekeet's official farewell. He began…

One billion fruits packed robotically - a major milestone

Global Pac Technologies, a New Zealand-based company, started marketing the Aporo produce packing robot in 2018 on behalf of New Zealand inventor and manufacturer Robotics…

Online auction for the potato processing industry

This month, Industrial Auctions is organizing an online auction on behalf of Kartoffelverarbeitungs GmbH in Hirschfeld (DE). The offer consists of infeed bunkers, peelers, washing machines, sorting and batching machines, slicers, multihead weighers, metal detectors and many more. These are from renowned…

Autonomous Agri Systems

UK company offers contracting service with driverless tractors

Autonomous Agri Systems (AAS) has introduced a “robot as a service” (RaaS) option for sowing, weeding and band-spraying. Users of RaaS operations will pay a fee based on the task, the equipment required and the area covered. The service is comprehensive, and includes supplying the equipment, setting up…

Ishida/Voie Verte

"Technology has proven to be powerful and reliable from day one"

To meet the growing demand for sliced fruit, Lyon-based Voie Verte automated its filling process. Several Ishida fresh produce scales are now proving their worth in processing the sticky and delicate produce into high-quality freshcut products. The linear scales were specially developed for highly…

"Extraction essential for optical sorting and packaging"

The German potato and onion cooperative Groka is located east of Hannover, Lower Saxony. More than half of the country's onions are grown in that area, and Groka's share of the German onion market is as much as 20-25%. In the video report below, director Volker Peters explains the entire process,…

The Burro platform is gaining traction in many US fields

The Burro platform is gaining traction in many US fields and nurseries by improving manual labor efficiencies. The platforms can be purchased from the company or rented…

"In addition to being gentle when handling produce, the machine can reach the weight set to fill punnets"

"The Madrid fair was a success and we are currently getting in touch with all the foreign operators who came to see us at our stand," reports Nicola Antonacci (sales manager) and Arianna Zammarchi (contact person) from Zetapack. Left: Nicola Antonacci, Arianna Zammarchi, Right to left: Hugues Martel…

Fox Robotics Ltd awarded £1 mln grant for FLEXBOT project

Fox Robotics Ltd, in collaboration with the University of Surrey and the Agri-Epi Centre, along with three prominent farms – MA & MP Stockwell Barnsmuir Farm in Scotland, Lutton Farm in Peterborough, and Secretts Farm in Surrey – have been awarded a grant of £998,639 for their ground-breaking FLEXBOT…

From Italy to Greece, the new-generation pear peeling machine

The combination of knowledge on the organoleptic qualities of produce and an increasingly developed know-how enabled PND, a leading company in the manufacture of fruit processing machinery, to design PEARL6, a brand new pear peeling machine. FreshPlaza has talked about it with Virginia Cascella, sector…

Bagging line includes updated features

“We value the opportunity to engage with the industry and our customers ― our team is always glad to talk about the latest advancements in both flexible packaging and packaging equipment,” said Aaron Fox, president of Fox Solutions and vice president of Fox Packaging. “We are committed to being a source…

"Expanding crate washing business into Australia was the right decision"

Rob van Geneijgen has been familiar with crate washing machines from an early age because his father has also been selling and servicing them In New Zealand for decades. Family ties are a common thread in the history of both Limex and MatMan Washing Solutions: Limex was founded by the father of current…

New bundling machine unveiled at Fruit Attraction

The know-how of ARC includes “bundling, tying, attaching, binding and banding.” The Normandy-based company launched its new SE1 NEO bundling machine at Fruit Attraction. “This machine is an adhesive tape bundling machine. It has been designed to meet customer demands for operator safety. It is equipped with…

"The trend of companies merging into large groups is driving automation"

Rising costs, increasing labor shortages and the sector’s restructuring through company mergers, driven by acquisitions by large operating funds, are boosting investment in automation in fruit and vegetable packing houses, and in an increasingly integrated way. So says Christophe Blanc, co-owner and CEO…

Grape scales in the fields: 20% increase in purchases during harvesting season

The peak of sales for Karmen field scales, designed to weigh and pack grapes directly in the fields, is now over, as table grape harvesting has begun in the production areas, and for many has even ended. "It was a satisfactory year for orders," says Giuseppe Rescina. Compared to the previous year, we saw an…

"The automation-robotization of the harvest will be essential in the medium to long term"

On October 3rd, during the Fruit Attraction fair, Afrucat -Catalonia's Fruit Business Association- presented a balance of Catalonia's 2023 stone fruit campaign. According to…

"Futura" - the machine to extract pomegranate arils

Pomegranate arils are a highly valued item of fresh produce. "Mechanically extracting arils from pomegranates is now possible thanks to a machine part of the Futura range, a sturdy yet simple solution," reports Andrea Vitali from CSA Technologies. "We design and manufacture machines for the agri-food industry.…

NZ company goes commercial with multipurpose, hybrid autonomous machine for orchard use

Tauranga company Robotics Plus has gone commercial with its multipurpose, hybrid autonomous machine for orchard use. The Prospr machine has evolved from Robotic Plus’s early…

Chambers critical in extending blueberry shelf-life during storage

Demand for blueberries stayed high, but the supply of quality blueberries was at an all-time low after the Pacific Northwest harvest season ended in late summer. The anticipated volumes from South America did not arrive as expected to fill the gap. Reports revealed that this shortage was due to the…

“We’re transforming production experience through AR technology”

The IQF-freezing technology company OctoFrost has unveiled a new approach intended to transform how people discover and study industrial machines. “We've used augmented reality (AR) technology, which enables people to explore our freezer equipment in a genuinely novel way. This is made feasible by…

Labour savings in leeks and storing carrots without refrigeration

Whoosh, with a short quick movement you pull leaves from the shaft when cleaning leeks. It's a few of seconds work, but time is money and labour is scarce. The trick is to pull off a minimum number of leaves without leaf tears from the leek when cleaning. The special properties of the Flexiton F1 variety…

“Increased demand for automatic peelers from Central America, the Middle East and Africa”

From 5 to 7 September, Japanese peeler innovator, Astra, attended Asia Fruit Logistica. Ryo Takeshita, a Sales Manager at Astra, shared his story: “This is our first time at AFL, although we only booked a small standard stand, many customers came to visit us, some even brought us gifts to thank us for…

Growers managing challenges look to optical sorting equipment solutions

WECO and Multiscan Technologies, both members of Duravant’s Food Sorting and Handling Solutions group, will exhibit together at the Global Produce and Floral Show, October 19-21, in booth #4527. Providing advanced optical sorting systems and other vision inspection solutions, WECO and Multiscan help…

New Zealand-based company turns to AI for step change in robotic apple packing speeds

Global Pac Technologies, a New Zealand-based company, has worked with Robotics Plus to use artificial intelligence technology, to increase apple production packing speeds by…

"Sales have also increased this year due to strategic partnerships"

Orange X-Press, a subsidiary of Llombart Handels- und Treuhandgesellschaft mbH, has been manufacturing juice machines since 1998 and enjoys steady growth. "Sales have increased this year. Volumes of machines have also increased disproportionately due to strategic partnerships. This is also related to the…

Upgrade of citrus packing equipment

Cecelia Packing has signed an agreement to upgrade its packing equipment to include an electronic sorter/grader being manufactured and installed by Reemoon Sorting USA. “We are thrilled to partner with Cecelia Packing,” said Tom Summers, Reemoon Sorting USA general manager. “We look forward to continued…

FruitMasters and GREEFA confirm collaboration on automation in packing of fruit

On 4 October, the collaboration between Royal FruitMasters and GREEFA was further confirmed. This was done during Fruit Attraction in Madrid, where FruitMasters' Adriaan Vis and GREEFA's Jan Nijland shook hands on the important contribution GREEFA will make to FruitMasters' ambitious Master Plan. Automation,…

'Largest number of international visitors to us so far this year'

With 110 customers and 70 representatives from 34 countries, Kronen GmbH celebrated its successes and long-standing partnerships at the Customer Days. "This year we are also celebrating the 25th anniversary of our company. With around 180 visitors, we were able to invite the largest number of…

CNH expands high-tech harvesting stake with investment in Advanced Farm Technologies

CNH continues to support the acceleration of smart harvesting technologies with a minority investment in the California-based start-up Advanced Farm Technologies, which…

Israeli tech company Nanovel has created an AI-powered citrus picking robot

Israeli tech company Nanovel seems to have developed a game-changing solution for the challenges facing the citrus-harvesting industry. Combining robotics, computer vision and…

Bonsai Robotics raises $13.5m seed round to bring autonomous vehicles to labor-starved orchards

Bonsai Robotics, which provides the first computer vision-based automation solutions for harsh, off-road environments, announced today that it has raised a $13.5M seed round led by Acre Venture Partners with participation from E14, Congruent, Serra Ventures, Fall Line Capital, SNR Ventures, Andros, and…

New partnership to provide robotic mushroom harvesting for drawer system

Mycionics, a pioneering leader in robotic technology, and Christiaens Group, the largest supplier of farms and equipment to the global mushroom industry, are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to supply a robotic mushroom harvesting solution for the Drawer System. The…

Partnership formed to provide robotic mushroom harvesting for drawer system

Mycionics, a robotic technology firm, and Christiaens Group, a supplier of farms and equipment to the global mushroom industry, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to supply a robotic mushroom harvesting solution for the Drawer System. With a picking rate of 45 picks per minute and the ability to…

Hallde adapts products to meet demand for cutting French fries

Hallde is expanding its range of cutting tools so that more of its vegetable preparation machines can cut French fries. The new French fries kit is available on five of its most popular models, including the compact RG-50 and the large RG-400i. In addition to the preparation of French fries, the machines…

A semi-automatic combined scale

"With the MHP 3000 semi-automatic combined scale, pre-filled packets, as well as empty ones, are completed with precision with table grapes or tomatoes," reports Top Control, one of the leading companies in the sector. Thanks to the gentleness and precision of the machine, wasted products and the time necessary for the precise…

New wind machines to be delivered to northern Italy

In the months of October and November, AID-Oranfresh, an Italian company that produces anti-frost wind machines, will deliver the first 30 specimens to Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna. Salvatore Torrisi A.I.D. (Agriculture Industrial Development) has been operating in the anti-frost technology sector for…

Iceberg lettuce with elongated 'neck' handy for humans and machines

In the Netherlands, adjacent to BASF I Nunhems, BASF's vegetable seed company's greenhouses, a machine is harvesting heads of iceberg lettuce this week. To make that possible, a variety concept is under development. This development fits entirely into the theme this vegetable seed company chose for week…

Gentle handling and weighing of vine tomatoes and grapes

The Italian company Zetapack will be demonstrating its machine, which sorts and weighs vine tomatoes and grapes with extreme care, during the Madrid trade fair. "We know very well how important it is to treat certain products with care," said Nicola Antonacci and Arianna Zammarchi, representing Zetapack.…

"ILLG thermoforming machine completes second phase of £1.5 mln investment"

Manchester-based sustainable thermoformed packaging manufacturer significantly increases capacity in the 50th anniversary year. Further underlining its position as one of the UK’s leading independently owned manufacturers of sustainable thermoformed packaging products, Macpac has completed the second…

Chilean packaging company takes technology expertise to world markets

Automation has become a crucial aspect of the fruit industry worldwide. Paclife leans on their decades of experience in the packaging sector as technology and modified atmosphere film suppliers to Chile's huge cherries and blueberries industries to present a new offering. "The company has taken a bold…

Citrus fruit peeling machines to reuse the peel

PND, a leading company manufacturing machinery for fruit processing is located a stone's throw from the generous Amalfi coast, swept by the scent of lemon groves and home to the delicious Limoncello. Virginia Cascella Right here in southern Italy, the company has invested in innovation specializing in…

New Zealand frost fan blades company quadruples output to meet global demand

FrostBoss® opened a new Blade Manufacturing Facility on September 26th, 2023 in New Zealand. It has the capability to manufacture three times its previous capacity, with the company poised to supply frost fan blades to meet the worldwide demand. FrostBoss, headquartered in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, has been…

Machine manufacturer focuses on new solutions for Europe and Latin America

Tomra Food will spotlight its sorting, grading, processing, and post-harvest solutions in Madrid next month. A team of Tomra Food’s experts will be on hand to discuss the company’s new European hub in Valencia, Spain, which opened this month, and the direct-to-market approach now being taken by Tomra…

Designers of new advanced stone fruit plant on show in Madrid

The Sorma Group will be exhibiting again at Fruit Attraction to meet established and potential customers from the trade to provide insights into its many innovations for the post-harvesting processing and packaging of fruit and vegetables. The projects presented include the most highly automated and…

Bid on various high-quality food processing machines

Industrial Auctions has organized an interesting auction in Kapelle (NL). The offer consists, for example, of sorting belts, batchers, filling and packaging machines, labelling equipment, checkweighers, metal detectors, peelers, and more. Also some interesting combinations are offered on this auction.…

"Crust freezing ensures that the frozen sweet corn maintains its original quality and flavor”

According to Sana Rehman, marketing coordinator for OctoFrost, sweet corn has attracted the interest of health-conscious consumers looking for nourishing choices, since it is a source of important vitamins and antioxidants. “A major biotechnology business, Bayer, claims that the agriculture industry has…

V80/S, a tray filler that is precise and efficient

The production and preservation process of packaged salads, vegetables and fruits in the fresh-cut sector consists of several stages: selection, sorting, peeling and cutting, washing, drying and sealed packaging. Speaking of the packaging stage, precision and efficiency are the distinctive and technical…

Exploration of underground water resources with interest-free instalment payments

After a very rainy June, HydroHunter Italy has been busy all summer searching for underground water. The mission of this company, based in Italy (Tuscany) but operating in many continents, is to help farmers who are having difficulty irrigating their fruit and vegetable crops, stressed by the heat and…

Increase in 'ready to eat': new technologies for ripening

"In recent years, there has been a significant growth in consumer demand for 'ready to eat' products, particularly tropical fruits and kiwi fruit. This trend reflects an increasing desire to reduce waste and ensure higher quality in food products. In response to this growing need, FCE has spent several…

Israeli company introduces new tech as bees struggle to pollinate

Thai Sade is the founder of tech firm BloomX, a company that has found a way to mechanically pollinate crops in a similar way to bees. "We are not replacing bees... but…

First autonomous tractor arrives at MU

After more than a year of waiting, researchers at the University of Missouri welcome the arrival of one of the nation’s first-of-its-kind electric, autonomous tractors. Known as the Monarch MK-V tractor, this revolutionary piece of technology will be studied for its ability to refine agricultural…

New Zealand launches multi-use autonomous vehicle for sustainable orchard and vineyard production

New Zealand-based agritech company Robotics Plus has launched Prospr, an autonomous, multi-use, hybrid vehicle designed to carry out a variety of orchard and vineyard crop tasks more efficiently and sustainably while reducing reliance on labor. Prospr is now commercially available from Robotics Plus, a…

Machines for non-destructive measuring of fruit quality on display in Madrid

Preventing mould, producing ethylene and removing unwanted items, while non-destructively measuring fruit quality is what Fresh Produce Instruments, based in the Netherlands, will be exhibiting at Fruit Attraction in Madrid. The company is going to have three main groups of the instruments:1. We make it!…

Auction with various applications for the fruit and vegetables industry

On September 28, Industrial Auctions will auction off hundreds of lots online. Amongst the offer is a wide range of potato, vegetable, and fruit processing machines. It consists of high-quality machines for both large and small processors, which are also widely applicable. Consider, for example, various peelers…

New machines allow Portuguese blueberry producer to open second revenue stream

In just five years since its start-up, Logofruits has become the largest blueberry producer in Portugal and one of the largest in Europe. As well as growing and packing fruit for well-known supermarket chains in northern Europe and Spain, Logofruits also provides packing services for wholesalers from…

New grower tests Swiss harvesting robot

Floating Robotics is developing a tomato harvesting robot. The Swiss grower Meiergemüse was allowed to test the first prototype last year. Last week, another grower, Beerstecher, started a test. The tomato grower will test the robot in three areas: harvesting, crating, and some logistics. The robot…

NL: Unit launched for on-site carbon capture and reutilization

"By enabling the generation of CO2 onsite at farms and greenhouses, we are taking a significant step forward in helping CEA businesses reduce their carbon footprint and transition away from the fossil fuel industry as a source for CO2 supply," said Rob van Straten, Skytree CEO. "This is an incredibly…

New harvesters for produce destined for the fresh-cut industry

"We want to revolutionize how harvesters are conceived. Our new Supreme line is dedicated to companies that need to work in an intensive manner and that want to increase the efficiency of the harvesting process. The new line was created to meet the needs of one of our partners, specialized in fresh-cut…

Annual Pulsed Electric Fields technology day to be held in Germany

On October 11th and 12th, Elea Technology will host the annual PEF Advantage Day at its headquarters in Quakenbrück, Germany. In a wide-ranging supporting program full of technical presentations, machine demos and discussion panels, researchers and partners from Elea present the benefits of Pulsed…

The efficiency of steam for greenhouse disinfection

The disinfection of soil increasingly needs effective technology that is easy to use. That is why Ingauna developed Vaporizont, a machine designed for the agricultural and nursery sectors. "Our technology enables swift and easy heat treatments on agricultural soil, substrates, and compost," explains Sara…

To China with 37 sea containers for a Tolsma Grisnich project

In late 2022, factories in China's well-known potato cultivation region stood ready to be equipped with a Grisnich receiving, cleaning, and sorting line. This project's delivery scope comprises as many as 37 sea containers shipped from the Netherlands to China. The plant will eventually process potatoes…

Behind the scenes at Dutch grading and packaging machine manufacturer

Greefa's head office is in Tricht, in the heart of Betuwe, the Netherlands. There, grading and packaging solutions are thought up and produced. We spoke to sales representatives Otto Klop and Sander Reukers, who discussed trends in that field and Greefa's response. Up-scalingOtto, who has been in this…

Autonomous systems to be showcased at Agritechnica 2023

Autonomous field work is no longer a distant prospect with robots increasingly finding their way into practical applications. However, further development work is needed…

Efficient sorters are fighting the threat of toxic weeds in green vegetables

Toxic datura and nightshade weeds are more often harvested with crops such as green beans and baby leaf spinach, with the risk of getting into the final product. However, new sorting technology is now available. Jacob Hobbel, TOMRA Food’s Global Category Director for Vegetables & Fruits, explains how to…

Efficiency and profitability play leading roles in potato sorting

"Efficiency is a word that comes up repeatedly regarding potato sorting," begins Kees Kelders, responsible for sales at the Austrian company Insort, which focuses on developing customized grading technology for the food processing sector. Jokingly, he cites making two kilograms of French fries from one…

Avocado oil extraction machines will be showcased at upcoming international trade shows

The last months of 2023 will be packed with fairs for Amenduni Nicola S.p.A., an Italian company specialized in the production and sale of machinery for extracting avocado oil, both virgin and extra virgin. These events provide opportunities for meeting and discussing important matters that can be used…

"What's visible to the human eye, a camera can see, too"

"Optical sorting is the future," begins Bram Jansen, Sales and Export Manager at Schouten, which is part of the Invaro Group. This Dutch company focuses on grading and processing machine development and design, for among other products, (seed) potatoes. He sees, especially, new software availability and…

An automatic line for cutting apples into slices

Fresh fruit consumption is increasing, and apples are a top product in this category. PND is staying abreast of modern trends by launching the Mod. CB8, an automatic line for slicing apples. Virginia Cascella We talked to Virginia Cascella, an export manager and industry expert at PND, a company specialized…

"Optical sorting of de-stemmed red radishes and sweet potatoes would also be conceivable"

Over the years, Swiss company Visar Sorting Sarl has made a name for itself in the international potato and vegetable industry with its advanced optical sorting lines. Despite the pandemic and war-related crises, optical sorting technology continues to gain in importance, as Visar CEO Daniel Pitton tells…