New cucumber container system at Kwekerij van der Waal

Added on 26 April 2023

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New cucumber container system at Kwekerij van der Waal

NETHERLANDS, Zevenhuizen - Kwekerij van der Waal in Zevenhuizen has recently implemented a new cucumber container system that has significantly improved the quality and efficiency of their harvesting process. The new system was designed and supplied by Taks Handeling Systems and uses automated technology to process and quality-check cucumbers more efficiently before they are placed in crates and palletised. In recent years, a lot of labour has been lost during the re-stacking of crates. In addition, working with crates posed a risk of damaging the fruits and breaking the leaves.

The new system begins in the greenhouse, where the cucumbers are harvested directly into containers instead of crates. The harvest containers have been developed so that the cucumber can be placed in them easily, within arm's reach and with enough content to harvest about 100 meters of path. One container can hold around 250-275 cucumbers. Two full containers are driven to the beginning of the Taks system by means of a harvest cart. Initially, the loose crate, with second choice cucumbers, is pushed off the top. Then, both containers are lifted and rotated by a portal robot, and then emptied. The cucumbers are evenly distributed over the conveyor belt, where they are checked for quality before being placed in crates. The number of cucumbers that come out of a container means there are fewer empty spots on the conveyor belt. This results in a higher filling rate of the sorter, which directly results in fewer sorting hours per day. Additionally, due to the more efficient harvesting process, there is also a minimum 10% labour savings. Then, everything is palletised. This process is automated and efficient, resulting in less manual labour and less loss of product.

According to the owner of Kwekerij van der Waal, Hans van der Waal, the new system has improved the productivity of the grower and helped to improve the quality of the cucumbers. "The new system has helped us streamline our processes and improve the quality of our products. Not having to re-stack crates saves a lot of labour time. This allows us to better respond to our customers' needs and offer them high-quality products," says van der Waal.

Thanks to the new system, Kwekerij van der Waal can process cucumbers more efficiently, saving time and labour while reducing the risk of product loss. Additionally, the automated quality control of the cucumbers ensures that only the best products are placed in the boxes. This means that the grower can deliver higher quality products to its customers.

The new cucumber container system at Kwekerij van der Waal is an excellent example of how automated technology can contribute to more efficient and effective greenhouse and horticultural processes. It has proven to be a valuable investment for the grower and has helped to improve the quality of their products, ultimately resulting in more satisfied customers.