Working together is the starting point for great ideas, and this is exactly what happened between the Italian Cooperativa Bilanciai and Agricola Don Camillo. The weighing and labelling of round products such as melons and watermelons has always been difficult and sometimes inaccurate, because the products move from one conveyor to another.
"A year ago, we sat down with the sales managers and engineers of the Cooperativa Bilanciai to discuss our needs and the result was extraordinary, with the creation of Venus Sphera," explained Andrea Benelli, CEO of Agricola Don Camillo.
Venus Sphera is a compact, precise, MID-approved weighing and labelling instrument, equipped with a "V" transport system that allows various types of large and medium-sized spherical products, up to 15 kg, to be weighed and labelled, with rates as high as 30 pieces/minute and a scale division of 1, 2 or 5 grams.
"Thanks to the special type of V-belt conveyor we were able to
achieve exactly what we needed, that is, gentle movement, precise weighing and fast labelling. We process melons and watermelons, including mini and midi varieties under 9-10 kg. With traditional systems, we couldn't push too hard on speed, otherwise we would lose precision in the two most delicate phases of weighing and labelling. The Venus Sphera, in addition to solving these drawbacks, integrates perfectly with our production lines in both plants located in the site of Brescello (Reggio Emilia) and Massafra (in Apulia). We have already installed four of them."
In addition to melons and watermelons, Venus Sphera is also suitable for other spherical or irregular-shaped products with different weights, such as pumpkins, iceberg lettuce, cabbage, etc. Some of its benefits include compactness, which makes it easy to move to different working areas or sites. Its simple design ensures low maintenance costs. Thanks to its easy interface with company management systems, it allows the storage of all data regarding production and traceability.
"Cooperativa Bilanciai has been producing weighing systems for over 70 years. The AWI (Automatic Weighing Instruments) division is engaged in the production of automatic machines for more complex production lines. Our strength lies in our in-depth knowledge of legal metrology" said Giampaolo Fantinato, AWI Sales Specialist.
Cooperativa Bilanciai operates both at an Italian and international
level and is equipped to identify the ideal solution and the right tools to meet the weighing requirements of each customer, thanks to the synergic input of its own sales and technical staff.
"This is the result of know-how acquired over the years," continues Fantinato, "which now means we can provide reliable, quality machines, as well as direct assistance. Our solutions can be tailored to the customer's project".
The software offered for the graphic design of labels and archive management of the machine is Planet View, while the software that integrates with the customer's management system via Ethernet is Connecta SQL. The machine is certified to receive benefits linked to Transition 4.0 for the three-year period 2021/2023.