| 65 INDUSTRY Reemoon NZ The future of fruit grading starts here ADVANCED VISION. INSIDE AND OUT. Mark Burch | +64 22 046 0862 | reemoon.com T T Kim Newth One of their first projects in New Zealand involved the delivery and commissioning of a customised four-lane apple sorting line in Nelson. “What’s exciting about Reemoon is that they’re fresh and new and have such a strong R&D focus.” Packhouse automation advancing apace Reemoon NZ only entered the local market three years ago but is fast making an impact with its new automated grading and high-speed sorting technology that’s transforming packhouses up and down the country. First established in China in 2001, Reemoon has evolved into a leading global supplier of automated sorting solutions. Combining highspeed fruit handling with intelligent grading technology, Reemoon supports packhouse operators to modernise and improve their sorting processes and achieve higher throughput during the critical post-harvest period. One of their first projects in New Zealand involved the delivery and commissioning of a customised four-lane apple sorting line in Nelson for a fourth-generation family orcharding operation, Wairepo Holdings Ltd. Alongside the obvious advantages of achieving greater sorting efficiency, Reemoon’s Infruscan internal quality inspection system is very attractive to apple growers like Wairepo as it can accurately detect defects such as core rot and browning. Research-driven innovation is driving change in apple varieties and some varieties now entering the market from around the world have red flesh. Reemoon’s sophisticated scanning technology can also grade for interior redness in these varieties. “Lower grade apples are accurately detected and selected for downgrading: if it is not quite right on colour or sweetness, if it has a blemish, is too small or has interior defects then our system will recognise that,” says Mark Burch, Reemoon’s New Zealand Sales and Service Manager. Currently, Reemon NZ has two new apple packhouse automation projects coming up in Hawke’s Bay and is receiving new enquiries daily. “I would say we’re the talk of the town at the moment.” Kiwifruit growers are also discovering the advantages of working with Reemoon NZ to update their operations. Earlier this year, Seeka welcomed two new, high specification and highly automated Reemoon packing machines for its Huka Pak and Kerikeri packhouses. The new machines are reducing manual handling and boosting efficiency and accuracy in postharvest operations. From Northland, Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, Tauranga, Kerikeri and Gisborne to Nelson, Christchurch and Central Otago, New Zealand growers are turning to Reemoon NZ to explore full automation solutions. Every installation receives full after-sales support. “We guarantee a technician on site in the local area every season,” says Mark, adding that Reemoon NZ is actively growing its local technical, design, R&D and sales teams as it continues to expand its presence in New Zealand. “We’re also heavily supported by China when it comes to design, installation and support during the season.” Mark started his career as an aircraft engineer before stepping into the fruit processing sector. He’s worked on some of the world’s largest packhouse projects and with a number of different sorting and packing system providers. “What’s exciting about Reemoon is that they’re fresh and new and have such a strong R&D focus. “It means that new processes and automation solutions are able to be developed very rapidly. “Companies that have been packing fruit for a long time come to us asking how they can do better - we have the technology to get them where they want to be.”
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