Since the beginning of this year, Cooling Center Zederik has been using the GearStation to pack grapes in punnets. This solution provides both labor savings and quality assurance, says Sander Terlouw from the cooling center. "We can now deliver even better quality with fewer people on the line."
"The cooling center specifically uses the GearStation to pack grapes in punnets," Terlouw explains. The grapes are delivered from various overseas countries, and the product is in transit for some time, he says. "The grapes are packaged in punnets for the customer. First, they go through quality control; based on the quality score, it is determined whether they meet the customer's requirements. Only then is the film and the customer-specific label applied to the punnet. The GearStation helps us assess quality at the front end."
Labor savings
Until recently, quality control was performed by employees. With this solution, far fewer people are needed, saving the cooling center two to three workers on the line. "That saves our customers between 800 to 1,000 euros per day," Terlouw calculates. Another advantage is that the GearStation monitors the grapes accurately and consistently, 24 hours a day. "No employee can match that level of precision," he adds. "This means we can offer our customers a higher level of quality assurance. The output is well-controlled and correctly delivered to the customer."
Start-ready for season
The grape import season at Cooling Center Zederik runs from October to the end of May. The solution was installed in February, in the middle of the season, Terlouw notes. "We've now worked with the GearStation for four months. After the initial phase, we had a strong finish to the last season and laid a solid foundation to be ready for the upcoming one. We've gathered a wealth of data based on our experiences, customer instructions, and quality control. This helps us collectively establish quality standards."
Training with data
According to Terlouw, significant efforts have been made to train the GearStation using the collected data. Ninety punnets pass through the line per minute, and the GearStation takes a photo of each one. These photos can be used for training purposes. "There's a training mode, and Gearbox can upload the photos separately into the GearStation, allowing it to recognize more quality issues over time. This way, we can continually improve and optimize the system."
Customer-specific requirementsThe customers of Cooling Center Zederik are importers who supply supermarkets. The company works closely with these importers to meet the specific needs of their clients, says Terlouw. "Grapes are a perishable product, so quality is extremely important. We want the fruit to be as fresh and of the highest quality as possible. Growers from abroad often believe they are delivering a good product, but that can sometimes fall short upon arrival in the Netherlands."
With the data from the GearStation, the cooling center has concrete evidence when a batch has quality issues. "For example, if 15 percent of a batch is assessed as low quality," Terlouw explains, "the importer can relay that information back to the grape supplier. Previously, quality issues were reported with just a photo, but now we can substantiate claims with objective data."
Strong collaboration
Sander Terlouw speaks highly of the collaboration with Gearbox. "The company is very engaged, which we value in a supplier," he says. "Gearbox installed the solution, and we worked with it for several months, optimizing the process, uploading the photos, and implementing updates. The solution has improved incrementally every day. Any startup issues were addressed effectively, and the company has been very supportive."
Starting this month, the cooling center will resume its sorting and packaging process, operating for an entire season with the GearStation. "Then we'll know exactly where we stand," Terlouw states. "We want to deliver the best quality to our customers, which is very important to us. With the GearStation, we can differentiate ourselves from our clients."
Continue to automate
"The cooling center also sees opportunities for further automation soon," he concludes. "We are an innovative company. If you want to move forward, you have to keep automating. This is particularly crucial given the current labor market shortages and rising minimum wages. These factors have a significant impact on our business, and automation will certainly play a key role."
For more information:
Gearbox
Nollaantje 42C
2672 BW Maasdijk
Tel: +31 (0)174 295714
[email protected]
www.gearboxinnovations.com