Machine saves 50% on labour costs for harvesting iceberg lettuce
Brimapack in Ulft supplies a growing assortment of packaging systems for field vegetable production.…Brimapack in Ulft supplies a growing assortment of packaging systems for field vegetable production. Since the introduction of the first sealing machine, their product range has grown into a complete range of packaging solutions over the last ten years; varying from packaging machines to sorting and labelling systems to logistic solutions.
During United Fresh in San Diego last week, Brimapack presented their range to the American market. "There is not one running machine from us here, but I am convinced that we will sell the machine and that there will be a lot more of our machines on the fields soon," tells Ron van de Pavert. "I am here for the third year and am very close to an order. People here are mostly set on leasing. Our machines are running internationally and with complete satisfaction. Over the last few years, I have supplied machines to Taiwan, Chile, Australia, Brazil, Lebanon and as of last year, South Africa."
Brimapack machines are focussed on packaging field vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower. "We deliver incredibly unique machines. We are the only ones who can package iceberg lettuce in the field. They are used to cutting the iceberg lettuce by hand here along with packaging and labelling. We have automated this process which saves 50% on labour costs and the investment, with a year round season, is earned back in a year and a half."
A conventional system was used in the past: iceberg lettuce in a bag and sealed with tape. An average of 10 pallets per hour could be achieved with 29 people. With 480 heads per pallet that means around 165 heads/man/hour.
The new system results in not only an average raise in capacity of around 350-400 heads/man/hour (with potential for more), but also that the heads of lettuces are perfectly sorted and labelled. Alongside that, 'NicePack' packaging is visually more appealing with a crisp C-PP foil with a tight seal over the cutting area. The shelf life in this type of packaging is also above all the rest. This is why more and more leading iceberg producers and their buyers are choosing for this new form of packaging. It can also be using for other products such as (white) cabbage and even melons.
"Due to the fact that we package the product on the field, we are able to increase the shelf life for iceberg lettuce by two to three days. Packaging is often completed by people using tape which can cause the structure of the lettuce to be broken. We know that avoiding this is only beneficial for the shelf life. We have developed a special foil for broccoli, which increases the shelf life by four to five days (at room temperature) compared to conventional packaging methods.
