48 | TOMRA: 50th anniversary HORTICULTURE Packaging system cuts labour-intensive tasks Karen Phelps The KETE16 delivers a versatile, high-capacity end of line system for packing punnets and clamshells. www.jwrpneumatics.co.nz | sales@jwrpneumatics.co.nz | Mobile: 027 304 3214 WE SUPPLY: Pneumatic valves Pneumatic cylinders Push t and nickel plated brass tting Air lteration WE ARE A: Airwork distributor Master Pneumatic reseller Festo reseller Reliable stock levels with great customer service WAIKATO BEARINGS IS PROUD TO SUPPORT TOMRA! 11 Northway Street, Te Rapa, Hamilton | P: 07 850 6155 | E: sales@waikatobearings.co.nz Dedicated Bearing & Power Transmission Specialists BEARINGS | POWER TRANSMISSION | SHAFT SEALING | LUBRICATION | MECHATRONICS waikatobearings.co.nz WAIKATO BEARINGS Situated in the heart of the Waikato, Transmission House Limited is a totally New Zealand owned and operated power transmission & conveyor system supplier that has serviced the industrial and agricultural sectors of business since 1986. , . www.thl-nz.co.nz | +64 7 849 9445 | 47 Vickery St, Te Rapa, Hamilton . . . | | , , THL Proudly Supporting Tomra TOMRA’s latest release, KETE16, tackles the most labour intensive aspect of production for small fruits like blueberries. The product, which took TOMRA’s New Zealand team two years to develop, delivers a versatile, high-capacity end of line system for packing punnets and clamshells. Vice president head of innovation for TOMRA Fresh Food James French says the fact the design is flexible to accommodate a range of punnet sizes, case sizes and orientations of pack is one of the KETE16’s key differentiation points. “The solution allows for simple change over between configurations and pack types, providing speed and consistency through robotic precision,” he explains. “The unique design solution includes interchangeable grippers to pick up and place clamshells into the tray avoiding the risks inherent to traditional suction methods that can open lids and compromise the product. Its flexibility is key in the ever-changing packaging market and allows people to invest with confidence.” KETE16’s speed is another key point; it can pack over 200 packages per minute. The KETE16 will be exported to customers globally with the first commercial unit earmarked to be up and running in New Zealand for the summer season. James says TOMRA has a number of other products in the pipeline including a pregrader designed to complement the KATO 260 that can identify and remove unwanted debris – essential as growers increasingly move from handpicking fruit to machine harvesting. TOMRA is in final discussions to get the first commercial unit running for the summer season in New Zealand with a planned rollout in North America next season. TOMRA is also continuing to explore artificial intelligence in grading. In 2019 it released LUCAI, the first artificially intelligence enhanced fruit grading platform to complement the KATO 260. “It allows the equipment to replicate the intelligence of human graders. It’s offered as an optional add-on but has become essentially standard equipment now, which is testament to how compelling an offering it is. “We are continuing to research and understand how we can apply AI technology to other products.” TOMRA is also doing more work in the packing/automation space around automatically packing kiwifruit into trays. “The kiwifruit industry has been hard hit by labour shortages over the pandemic so there has been a push to automate this labour intensive task. We are trialling a prototype out in the field this season.” He says that Covid-19 has meant that TOMRA has had to undertake a lot of its research and development in New Zealand over recent years and cooperation with local growers has seen innovation continue despite the pandemic. “While TOMRA would typically head offshore to test during New Zealand’s non-fruit growing season, it has instead worked with local partners who have stored fruit, elongated seasons or might grow fruit in a greenhouse. It’s deepened our connections into the regions with our customers. “We’ve enjoyed that and solidified partnerships. All around New Zealand has become our test bed.” “The kiwifruit industry has been hard hit by labour shortages over the pandemic so there has been a push to automate this labour intensive task. We are trialling a prototype out in the field this season.”
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