Need for smart, sustainable storage systems greater than ever

Mild temperatures during harvesting are not ideal for storing potatoes and onions. To maintain quality during storage, good storage solutions are essential. And these systems are becoming increasingly smart. Omnicuro Omnivent is hard at work developing drying and storage control systems. This Dutch…

Online auction of potato peeling and packaging line

Are you looking for machines for your potato processing location? Industrial Auctions is at your service! The company organizes an online auction for the potato processing industry on behalf of SolaBonum GmbH in Soltendieck (DE). The offer consists of several lines for the potato processing. This goes…

Verdant Robotics announced the close of $46.5 million in Series A funding

Verdant Robotics announced the close of $46.5 million in Series A funding, an investment period that took three rounds over the last three years. The investment will enable…

More compact case packer for potatoes, carrots, onions and salads

Lan Handling Technologies' latest case packer has been redesigned with an even more compact footprint. In addition to the high capacity (up to 160 trays per minute) and accurate product placement by the 6-axis robotic arm, the new design delivers significant benefits. Practical benefits The height and width…

Industry 4.0 is not just about process automatization

The 4.0 business perspective goes far beyond the automatization of industrial processes. It is a business management model that involves the use of innovative and useful systems for production. It connects physical and digital systems, complex analytics through big data and real-time adaptations.   PND has been able…

Waikato University is developing a new e-bin that rolls alongside kiwifruit pickers

New Zealand kiwifruit pickers may soon have robotic colleagues to help them out. Waikato University engineers have developed an e-bin which rolls alongside workers. They can drop the fruit into the bin, where it will be safely caught and stored in a net, instead of having to lug heavy bags on their…

Herb.ERT

"Heat-energy recovery paired with interpolating control software is unique in the world"

Originally developed for herbs and flowers - the Herb.ERT drying process is now used by numerous sustainably oriented fruit and vegetable growers to produce premium dried products and of highest quality. Recently, the drying oven has also been available as a modular container for soft drying of larger…

Food safety tech firm starts shipping new pathogen-killing product

SmartWash Solutions, a food safety technology company, has begun shipping EPIC Panel Sterilight, a new patent-pending product designed to safely and automatically kill Listeria and other pathogens inside control panels—an often-overlooked source of cross-contamination. “Food manufacturing companies have…

"Thanks to our laser cutting equipment, we are able to produce machine parts within a few hours"

This year, Upmann Verpackungstechnik Ltd celebrates its 225th anniversary. Furthermore, the specialist in weighing and packaging put its new premises at the main site in Rheine-Mesum into operation in summer 2021. Plant manager Henrik Klostermann gave us a tour of the modern facility and talked about…

Cimcorp achieves record order fulfillment lead time for two Mercadona logistics centers

Cimcorp, integrator of turnkey robotic handling solutions, and Mercadona, one of Spain’s leading grocery retailers, have celebrated the successful go-live of a third large logistics center featuring Cimcorp automation. Following the start of operations in both Zaragoza and San Isidro in 2021, the…

Presentation of updated potato parting machine at Interpom

"The demand for cutting machines for halving and quartering potatoes remains undiminished within the market. This development requires extra attention and therefore, based on current machine data and wishes/needs of our customers, our R&D engineers have rolled out several updates for the Start/Stop…

Agri robotics to take flight in South Africa

South African farmers are joining the global trend of using robots, called field robots. Agri SA’s head of rural safety, Kobus Visser, stated that this will “address the…

GrowTech off to a good start

Amidst the energy crisis, inflation, and other unprecedented challenges, the horti world has gathered for the new edition of the GrowTech in Antalya, Turkey. Interestingly enough, however, the energy crisis is not much felt in Turkey, with many growers using geothermal energy. Despite everything, a positive energy can be felt…

New belt system for the potato and vegetable industry

On November 16 & 17, Elea held their PEF Advantage Day at their facilities in Quakenbrück, Germany. This year, the event also marked the 10th anniversary of the company. Talks, insights and demonstrations were by both resident and industry experts with a focus on PEF improving product quality, enhancing…

EastFruit

Agribots are coming!

Agribots are starting their work to relieve farmers from the monotonous tasks of planting, growing, and harvesting, as well as to solve the issues associated with the labor shortage. EastFruit has repeatedly drawn attention to the innovations of the horticulture robot market. In Parts I and II of this article, we will consider…

'Monitoring water use by mango trees might improve irrigation management'

In Far North Queensland, kids and grown-ups alike are out gathering mangoes. Mango growing is a multi-million-dollar industry, with growers across northern Australia competing…

Key Technology takes sorting systems to Interpom

Key Technology is exhibiting their Herbert Oculus whole potato sorter and showcasing their range of other high-performance solutions for fresh and processed potatoes and vegetables in booth #257 at Interpom in Kortrijk Expo, Belgium, Nov 27-29, 2022. Providing advanced optical sorters, specialized…

'Robotic match made in heaven' at Interpom

The pairing of two cutting edge robotic technologies which is 'set to slash labor requirements in post-harvest facilities', are to debut in Bolzano, Italy on 17 November. Global Pac Technologies are displaying a working demonstration of the Aporo™ II robotic apple packer and just released Carton…

Tray packing and weighing line for delicate vegetables

The Italian-based company Bulltec has supplied Master Fruit of Licata, an already well-established customer of many years, with a new processing plant that has a weighing system for packaging courgettes and peppers entirely in 4.0-ready stainless steel. The plant was designed and developed by Bulltec to…

"PEF enables gentle processing without loss of quality and with lower water and energy use"

On November 16 and 17, Elea Technology Ltd hosted the now annual PEF Advantage Days at its headquarters in Quakenbrück, Lower Saxony. At the same time, the innovative company celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. In a wide-ranging supporting program full of technical presentations, machine demos and…

Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) systems for large, peeled and unpeeled potatoes

As a supplier of Pulsed Electric Field systems for better French fries and potato chips, the innovative Dutch-German company Pulsemaster continues to specialize in Pulsed Electric Field processing. " With Pulsemaster PEF-systems huge improvements can be achieved in the production process of chips and…

DT Dijkstra delivered a grading and inspection line with box fillers in New Zealand

Last year, DT Dijkstra delivered a grading and inspection line with box fillers to K & M Farming Ltd. in New Zealand. Co-owner Malcolm Cairns explains how this project brought about a big change in his company. ‘My existing screen grader was 30 years old, so I decided to invest to have something brand…

"Automating the packaging process saves time and money"

On 27, 28 and 29 November 2022, Interpom in Kortrijk will once again bring together the cream of the crop of the potato industry. Manter, Solidtec and Sarco Packaging will demonstrate various weighing and packaging machines and show unique packaging solutions. Automating the packaging process saves time and…

Hepro GmbH

"Fewer peeling losses, better space utilization and decreased manpower"

HEPRO Ltd has always been known for its high-quality systems for horizontal asparagus peeling. In recent years, however, vertical peeling in particular has rapidly gained importance in the international asparagus industry. "The horizontal peeling system reached its limits: on the one hand, no further…

Engels Machines at the ExpoSE 2022 fair in Karlsruhe, Germany

Engels Innovatietechniek BV (Engels Machines) presents the EcoSpader 2030, a bed former for asparagus cultivation, at the expoSE 2022 fair in Karlsruhe. Asparagus cultivation…

AV550 by GNA: "Fast, versatile and easy to use"

"Once adjusted, set, and tested, the machine is easy to use and adapts to the size of the vegetables to be packaged," reports Christopher Bernardi, production supervisor at Bernardi Srl, about flow pack machine AV550 by GNA srl, which the company has been using since December 2021.  Flow pack machine AV550 by…

A harvesting machine that adapts to various types of vegetables

At the expo in Karlsruhe, Germany, on 23-24 November, the Italy-based machine manufacturer Bagioni will present some novelties, including a battery-powered machine that makes harvesting different types of vegetables easier. "Many small-scale growers have several types of vegetables on their plots. For those…

New ultrasonic sealer

Sustainable, mono-material packaging and solutions have recently been gaining ground in Germany and its neighboring countries. The German engineering firm Affeldt Maschinenbau, too, recognizes this development and responds to the food trade sector's needs. Its machine portfolio now boasts the AVN 929 U ultrasonic network…

FAM, Stumabo and Kiremko start global partnership

Kiremko, manufacturer of turnkey potato processing lines and FAM Stumabo, worldwide known for their progressive industrial potato cutting solutions and innovative shapes produced through hydrocutting systems, have entered a long-term global partnership. In this partnership FAM (a Kiremko-partner for more…

To meet consumer expectations, blueberry sorting must be consistent

"We want to supply consistent, nice-looking, tasty products that also transport well," begins Sukh Bubra, who owns Dr. B's. This company recently established a new blueberry growing and packing facility in southwestern Washington. "We had to improve our operational efficiency as we expanded our acreage…

Asparagus harvesting machine taking care of back-breaking harvesting coming in 2023

An asparagus harvesting machine that will take  the back-breaking work out of harvesting this delicate produce will be available from the spring of 2023.  Harvest Corp Technology and…

Aweta: "Performance" and "Simplicity" to respond to the shortage of labor

This year the apple kingdom, Trentino-Alto Adige, had to face labour shortages that risk compromising the apple harvest season. The problem of staff shortages in the fruit and vegetable sector is increasingly alarming and fruit and vegetable companies often have to resort to technological solutions to…

"Process automation facilitates the reduction of production costs in citrus warehouses"

"The citrus industry is one of the most suited for the implementation of complete warehouse automation solutions because of its production volumes and the duration of its campaigns," said Jaime Mendizábal, commercial director of Maf Roda, manufacturer of automation technology solutions for the fresh…

A new potato washing line

Italian machinery manufacturer RG Impianti has delivered to Ortofrutticola Loru, a cultivation company in Sardinia, a potato processing line with a capacity of 6-8 tons per hour. The technologically advanced line was completely designed and built by RG Impianti. "The machine is in AISI 304 stainless steel. The processing line allows…

EURO-JABELMANN Maschinenbau GmbH

"Products do not have to be weighed and packaged in advance by the farmer"

As an internationally operating machine supplier, among others for potato and vegetable technology, EURO-JABELMANN Maschinenbau Ltd has already been a fixed exhibitor at many trade fairs for many years. At this year's expoSE in Karlsruhe, the Lower Saxony-based company will put a spotlight on the Jafix…

Three problems data solves in fruit, veg and potato sorting

In the same way that fruit and vegetables can nourish the body with nutrients for health, data can nourish machinery with health and high performance. The Internet of Things…

German family company switches from tomato cultivation to hydroponic lettuce

Leo Berghs-Trienekens is a household name in and around the German town of Straelen. The family company has a greenhouse where mostly tomatoes were grown until recently. Last winter, skyrocketing energy prices made the grower decide to stop heating. The sun-grown tomatoes were harvested, the greenhouse…

ProSeal extends automatic case packer range

The latest launch from Proseal is the CP2 - a high-speed, fully automatic system that combines efficient power consumption with the ability to fill cases at up to 110 packs per minute. The patented CP2 further expands Proseal’s range of case packers which, together with its market-leading tray sealing…

'No human can beat 16 images per Brussel sprout on a full sorter"

This season, Frankort & Koning began using the Sproutcam. "It's wonderful to see how this machine uses 3D image analysis to see how ripe and skew the sprouts are and select their height and width to the millimeter," says Harm Aben, responsible for Brussel sprouts at this Dutch company. "As soon as we switch…

PINCYL8 by PND - a multi-function machine for pineapple processing

"Another three fairs end the year for PND: last week, we were in Orlando for PMA, this week we have been in Bangkok for Asia Fruit Logistica and then we will go to Dubai for Gulfood Manufacturing. We continue to be present in the two hemispheres with our commercial team, which is always enthusiast to…

Elimination of weeds with heating power burners

After attending the Indagra exhibition in Romania with their distributor Agroteam, the Mingozzi Group is now preparing for Eima International, a fair in the agricultural machinery sector which will be held in Bologna, Italy, from 9 to 13 November. At the fair in Romania "We will be exhibiting in Hall 37 -…

"Kazakhstan is a very important market for us"

"The first day of the fair went really well," reported Omar Papi, CEO of Futura, when talking about the Agroworld fair in Almaty, Kazakhstan (November 2-4, 2022). "Kazakhstan is a very important market for us, and is managed by our company Futura Central Asia based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan." "The climate…

Agri sector offers opportunities for Essex County automation industry

In Essex County, agricultural is the second largest segment of the local economy, after the automotive industry. That is why, with the world’s second largest collection of…

Ultramatic AG new partner of Tramper Technology in Switzerland

Ultramatic AG recently became Tramper Technology's new partner for the Swiss market. The Winterthur-based family business of HansMartin Kessler and his son Martin Kessler provides a wide range of packaging solutions for the food industry in Switzerland. “Our goal is to provide our customers with the most…

Offered at online auction: asparagus harvesting machine!

"Working in the fruit and vegetable processing industry and growing asparagus? Then we might have an interesting offer. At the online auction of Industrial Auctions a Cerescon asparagus harvester is offered. This harvesting machine was built in 2021 and is therefore relatively new." If interested in this…

New multifunctional and solid hygiene lock in the fight against disease pressure in horticulture

Growers want to prevent plant diseases and, therefore, infections of their crops as much as possible. This is because they increasingly cause unwanted failure and yield loss. Taking adequate hygiene measures has therefore become more important than ever. Royal Brinkman is introducing a new variant of…

AVNP 450 by GNA "ideal for the packaging of chestnuts"

According to Themistoklis Pantelidis, President and CEO of Pantelidis Industrial Weighing & Automations based in Thessaloniki (Greece), "a standardized production, packaging and labelling by the same machine, speed and precision, reduced costs, flexibility in producing bags of different size and type…

Calderoni to attend Eima to showcase latest machines

Everything is ready at Calderoni for the Eima fair (November 9-13, hall 25 stand A39). The company from Forlì, which specializes in equipment for in-row and between-row mechanical operations, will showcase its most popular machines as well as the latest introductions.  In view of fall and winter pruning, the…

Two new machines for efficient, delicate processing of apples

It is just a few weeks to Interpoma, the only vertical exhibition specifically dedicated to the apple trade, to be held in Bolzano from 17 to 19 November. This is a major event for Sorma Group, which will be presenting all its main innovations for the industry. The company’s stand will display, assembled…

Optiserve delivers optical sorter for baby carrots to topfresh

Healthy snack products such as baby vegetables are taking stores by storm. Unlike, say, mini cucumbers or baby spinach, baby carrots are often not a separate variety or early harvested product. Long carrots are chopped, scrapped and selected to leave a nice, uniform product. A useful tool for this…

Hi-tech farming robot sets about to weed parsnip field

The Robotti is an autonomous tractor which navigates with a satellite-guided accuracy of within 2 cm. It uses attachments for farm operations such as seeding, weeding and…

Land drones that can operate independently

The technical day organized by CAI Consorzi Agrari d'Italia on October 21st, 2022, at Ambruosi&Viscardi (Marche region) featured the presentation of "Orio," a fully-electric robot available to Italian agricultural producers. The technical day at Ambruosi&Viscardi Orio is a land drone boasting independent…

Saga Robotics raises £8.5 million to accelerate growth within UK strawberry sector

Norwegian agri-tech company Saga Robotics has raised £8.5 million to accelerate their growth within the strawberry sector in the UK. The move will also accelerate further…

Complete new potato quartering machine

Sormac introduces a potato quartering machine with numerous improvements. An innovative straightening system and continuous processing lead to more even cutting results, less maintenance and more capacity. This, combined with various other improvements, makes for a machine that leaves any competition far…

Central Japan: Drone tested to prevent fruit theft

People in central Japan are testing a drone to see if it is capable of preventing the theft of fruit from orchards. A local agricultural cooperative in Toyota City, Aichi…

Robots help pick strawberries in California amid drought and labor shortage

California produces about 90% of the nation's strawberries, but severe drought and worker shortages are threatening the fruit. One company is hoping to change that with the power of robots. Eric Adamson's company is behind a strawberry robotic revolution. He said they're programmed to think on their own,…

Elea to celebrate 10th anniversary, introducing new belt system

Elea will host its annual PEF Advantage Day at the company’s facilities in Quakenbrück, Germany on November 16 and 17. This year, the event will also be an occasion to celebrate Elea’s 10th anniversary. Presentations and product demonstrations will be given by industry experts with a focus on the…

GUSS Automation

Driverless orchard sprayer displayed at Sunbelt Ag Expo

At the Sunbelt Ag Expo, a fully automated orchard sprayer was among the high-tech farm equipment on display. The advanced GUSS GPS-guided unit navigates itself with no driver and applies chemicals only where needed. The annual farm show in southwest Georgia ended on Wednesday. Image: GUSS Automation GUSS,…

MED Automation and Greefa’s new packing line installation at Ceres Fruit Growers

Ceres Fruit Growers (CFG) is one of South Africa’s largest and oldest apple and pear packing and storage facilities, and the management team at CFG report that they are satisfied with their newly installed Greefa Combisort cup sizer packing line with Greefa’s iQS Performance Plus optical sorting, and…

Technological solutions to tackle the digitization of the agri-food industry

One of the challenges that the agri-food sector will be facing in the coming years is the digitization of agricultural activity and the use of new technologies to achieve a sustainable agri-food sector that is both profitable and capable of competing in all markets. With the aim of helping professionals…

Western Growers premieres video series featuring next-generation agtech robots

To celebrate the start of the first American edition of FIRA, the international agricultural robotics conference, WG debuts an inside look at cutting-edge technologies on the…

Listeria: strengthen your food safety plan with Oxyion Technology

The problem in managing the safety of pathogens such as Listeria is a daily challenge that must be addressed with the support of key technological tools such as the purification and sanitization service offered by Oxyion® Technology applications. Currently, Listeria monocytogenes is one of the biggest…

UK manufacturer to reveal innovation in mobile machinery at Interpom

A UK manufacturer of vegetable handling solutions will reveal the latest innovation in mobile machinery at next month’s Interpom (27 – 29 November) - a Mobile Water Treatment System. Utilising Haith’s extensive knowledge of designing and installing water treatment systems at factories, the new Mobile…

BT demos automated agriculture using robots and IoT

BT has announced the successful deployment of a robotics platform and management system to support the agricultural project Robot Highways, enabling a fleet of robots to help automate the farming process. Robot Highways is a project led by agricultural robot specialist Saga Robotics, aiming to explore…

"Our small packaging division now has case packers, not turntables"

What to do when you have limited space but want to automate, at all costs, to overcome staff shortages? You may well reach your wit's end, especially if expansion is not an option. That is the dilemma Waterman Onions in the Netherlands has faced for some time. Until last year. It found a solution and is…

"What offers peace of mind? Only automation, nothing else"

No more jostling forklifts in the warehouse. When you no longer have to consider this, you are getting close to what Deprez Handling Solutions has in mind when it offers automation solutions to customers in the potato, onion, and carrot sectors. "We never simply propose a single solution; we offer a…

Isla by Zummo: a new product has arrived to give an about-turn to the way we eat natural pineapples

Valencia-based company has released a press statement concerning its new retail machine: Isla: Zummo, once again, combines modern design with cutting-edge technology in its new product: Isla. A new retail machine designed to simplify to the maximum the process of transforming a fresh pineapple into a…

Newtec

Newtec offers equipment to enable optical sorting of potatoes

Newtec, a prominent manufacturer of weighing, packing and sorting machinery primarily for the fruit and vegetable industry, has manufacture an optical sorting machines that meets all types of quality standards and pre-set classifications. The Celox-P-UHD is the only machine on the market that can…

‘3D food printers will become just another kitchen tool to make preparing meals easier and faster’

In a recent survey by 3D printing experts Hub.com, it was revealed that 3D printed food garnered an impressive number of Google searches per month when looking at a range of…

"Automation is the way to go"

For the whole of last week, Sarco Packaging welcomed local and overseas clients to its Demo Week in the Netherlands, where it demonstrated several End of Line packaging solutions. These included various automation options like case packers, pick & place robots, and tray formers.  "Automation is the way to go," says Jaap van der Sar.…

The latest innovations for aquaponics and vertical farming

Urbinati's technologies can be found in more than a hundred countries. This Italian company designs and manufactures modular systems for the automation of cultivation processes in growing companies "for sustainable and resilient horticulture." "In recent years, we have also specialized in hydroponics and…

New closing machine on display

Kwik Lok is introducing its new 865B at the International Floral and Produce Association (IFPA) show in Orlando, Florida, October 27-29, 2022. Customers can see the new 865B in action at Kwik Lok’s booth, 861.  Apples, potatoes, pears--the new 865B reliably bags just about anything. It features a more powerful motor, additional safety…

An Australian pineapple farming innovation protecting environmental water quality

An innovative de-nitrification bioreactor project at a pineapple farm on Queensland's Sunshine Coast is achieving some impressive environmental results for not only the industry but also the health of the region's waterways - with hopes that more farmers can look into installing the simple technology.…

Nanovel Ltd introduces revolutionary autonomous tree fruit harvester

Isaac Mazor, Founder and CEO of Nanovel Ltd. has revealed a revolutionary autonomous tree fruit harvester. Mazor is a successful serial entrepreneur in the field of…

Reemoon's first Mexican avocado sorting equipment is put into operation

Mexico is a famous country for producing avocados, especially Tancitaro in Michoacán, Mexico. This area has a special geographical location and favorable climatic conditions. The avocados in this area bloom four times a year, which can realize the year-round supply of avocados. In the highly competitive…

Investment in snap pea program through acquisition of two optical sorters

Mann Packing Co., Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Fresh Del Monte Produce, is investing heavily in its leading snap pea program. The vegetable division of Fresh Del Monte has upgraded its program by acquiring two optical sorters dedicated solely to snap peas, totaling a $2.5 million investment, and is…

Dutch bell pepper grower gets new automated crate processing line

In the Netherlands, Bateq recently installed a new production line at C. Zwinkels Paprikakwekerij. This fully automated line lets this bell pepper grower depalletize, destack, unfold, and transport folding crates. The line carries them to the rear sorting system, where the crates are refilled. The filled…

Live packaging machine demonstrations at global produce show

From October 27 to 29, the very first edition of the Global Produce & Floral Show will take place in Orlando, Florida. JASA is participating and demonstrating two packaging machines in action. On January 1, 2021, PMA and United Fresh merged to form the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA). This…

New husker rolls for sweet corn and seed corn processors

PROEX FOOD announces the official release of its HUSKER ROLLS. These rolls are critical for sweet corn and seed corn processors and the rolls work with all OEM huskers and ship quickly. “Together with the official launch of our iNTELLIPRO™ HUSKER, we are also addressing a common market need. Sweet and…

The markets are focused on sustainability

"Sustainability is now one of the most important factors in all industries," according to Italy's company GNA, which recently attended two international trade fairs, Fachpack in Nuremberg and Fruit Attraction in Madrid. "Once again, it has become clear that the sector is very much focused on…

"Our latest innovations meet demands for automation, speed and quality standardisation"

This year Sorma Group will once again be exhibiting at Fruit Attraction, the major international meeting-place for fruit and vegetable sector professionals (Madrid, 4-6 October 2022). The company comes to the Spanish show with three big innovations for post-harvest fruit processing: the InstanDefect-AI…

"New processing line presented to the fresh-cut industry"

A rare special occasion: within the scope of a major order, the company Kronen in the German town of Kehl am Rhein is manufacturing four processing lines, one of which was recently demonstrated live to an audience of interested guests invited by Kronen. The automated, networked line is the third of the…

For sale: Lödige paddle-dryer!

On the 20th of October Industrial Auction is organizing an online auction in Harderwijk (NL). The offer of this auction consists of a Lödige paddle-dryer on a steel platform. Previously, this paddle-dryer was used for making protein powder. Do you want to know more about this machine? Visit the website for more information or visit…

Australian-created non browning avocado range set to launch in US

An Australian-based food innovation company is expanding with a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Mexico, which will launch early next year. Naturo Technologies launched its ‘All Natural’ avocado range called Natavo™ Avocado four years ago. Director Ross Harris says that the Mexican facility…

New DEXIA multi-fruit extractor improves efficiency for exports

The Dominica Export Import Agency (DEXIA) has purchased and installed a state-of-the-art, industrial-grade multi-fruit extractor for processing and pulping of fruits for local juicing companies and for sale on the export markets. Operations Manager Bristol Lawrence said in an interview that the…