Golden Acre Farms (GAF) is one of the most advanced cucumber producers in Southern Ontario. Based in Kingsville, the company has invested in modern technology to make all processes more efficient, cost effective and low labor intense. It’s the owner’s vision that this is the only way forward. Louis Chibante has started this operation with 21 acres of high tech greenhouses in 2011 with a clear view to set a high standard in cucumber growing. With high wire top quality produce, at top production rates, LED lighting to come next season, full automation with robotics to unload whatever comes from the greenhouse, automatically feed the existing sealer/grader, robotics to pack into boxes and RPC’s automatically and robotics to palletize the packed goods (various box and RPC dimensions), this site is for sure the most advanced in the area.
Louis Chibante has made his own choices in how to get it all organized. Stackable totes, specially modified trolleys to control alignment of totes on these trolleys, etc. All was done with a vision to keep labor as low as possible. Coming in the site now, raises the question: “where’s you’re personnel”, upon which Louis will proudly point at all robot arms, saying: “there they are”. That doesn’t mean that Louis doesn’t care for people. On the contrary. By making these processes less physical demanding on peoples bodies, personnel will stay longer happy.
The choice for Koat for the robotics automation around the grading was well thought of. None of the other players in the world would have similar experience in robotics automation in the greenhouse sector. Koat uses the words reliable, robust, cost efficient and fit for purpose for their products. It has been an excellent project in excellent cooperation between 2 advanced companies with clear vision of the future.
For more information
Koat B.V.
Kees van Dam
Schoolstraat 19,
5711 CP Someren,
The Netherlands
C: (+31)6 55 358810
T: (+31)493 496130
F: (+31)493 492113
