At Boomaroo, an Australian producer of vegetable seedlings in the open ground, a new project is being installed. KG Systems, not unknown down under, supplies them with an automatic container system consisting of nearly 2000 mobile containers.
‘Fully automated’ is how Floris Berghout with KG Systems describes the system. “Boomaroo is one of the most hi-tech companies in Australia. They are always on the prowl for the latest innovations to stay one step ahead of their competition.”
Automated process
Floris says: “Seeds are sown in trays automatically, after which the trays will be placed on mobile containers. In two multilayer, fully conditioned cells, the plants germinate. The germinated plants are automatically placed in the Cravo greenhouse."
The roof of the greenhouse can open in summer to allow more air and sunlight in. The next stop for the plants is the open field, which is as big as the greenhouse.
"When the plants are big enough they are returned to the workspace - of course automatically as well – where they will be transferred into transporting racks to then be brought to the customer by truck", Floris shows. “The whole system rotates automatically. The grower can log into the system to see exactly where the containers are. He can also send the containers from the greenhouse to the workspace and back.
Floris Berghout, KG Systems
Tight schedule
“The greenhouses are ready now, and even the foundation for the container system is done. Around week 10, when the other construction work is done, we start installing the automated installation and welding of the containers."
The material needed for this is as of now still on the way. The material was shipped from Rotterdam and will be brought to Brisbane.
"The installation will take a few weeks”, Floris estimates. Boomaroo is bent on maximal efficiency, says Floris. “Over the past few months, a few changes were made to further improve the system. Because of this, the project will take a bit longer to finish, but we are working hard to finish as soon as possible.”
A well thought out decision
Choosing KG Systems as the supplier was a well thought out decision. “We spent a significant amount of time with Boomaroo to talk about our design and what speed and efficiency could be expected through it. All of the pros and cons were taken into consideration. Eventually, we were picked. It didn’t hurt that we have experience in Australia and word of mouth is still effective”, says Floris.
For more information:
Floris Berghout
Kees Greeve B.V. & KG Systems B.V.
Leeuwenhoekweg 58
2661 DD Bergschenhoek
Netherlands
Tel. +31-10 5212644
floris@kgsystems.nl
mobile +31 6 5465 3130
www.kgsystems.nl