Katunga Fresh Produce, originally a tomato grower in southeastern Australia, is a close-knit family business where everyone does their bit. This ensures that the best quality vegetables are produced with the best taste and shelf life. In response to great demand from the Australian market, Katunga started growing 3 color peppers this year.
The first system in Australia
To ensure that the harvesting and transport of this new crop runs smoothly, Steenks Service from De Lier delivered a bell pepper shuttle system a while back. A distance difference of 16,522 km as the crow flies, but this has never been an obstacle. Katunga Fresh is the first Australian grower with this system.
Sander Zuidgeest, co-owner of Steenks Service: "This is the 1st bell pepper shuttle system in Australia that has now been delivered and we are proud of that. This system provides good labor savings and greater efficiency in harvesting and transportation operations"
How the Shuttle System Works
When harvesting at height, the empty container will automatically move with the platform of the pipe rail trolley. The shuttle itself remains at the bottom of the undercarriage. When the container is full, the pipe rail trolley will move down again. The full container is then connected to the shuttle, after which work can continue with an empty container.
The shuttles with full containers are coupled together to an AGV electric tow truck that automatically drives to the sorting area via the induction track, to be emptied. In this way the production process is much easier and there is less damage to the peppers.
For more information:
Katunga Fresh Produce
1055 Numurkah Rd
Katunga VIC 3640
Australia
E: katunga@katungafresh.com.au
Steenks Service
Jan van de Laarweg 1
2678 LH De Lier
Netherlands
E: info@steenks-service.nl
W: www.steenks-service.nl