Following the successful installation of two new unloading lines at his operation in Someren, the Netherlands, cucumber grower Ties Verbaarschot (TVS) has opted for the same technology at two recently acquired growing sites in Wellerlooi and Helenaveen. Both locations are to be equipped with a NEXT rotation dumper combined with an AI-powered crate filter system.
© Next Handling Solutions
Expansion of the cultivation area
Verbaarschot has expanded his business considerably. In addition to his existing greenhouse in Someren, where two new unloading lines were installed, he has acquired a seven-hectare operation in Wellerlooi and a three-hectare site in Helenaveen. Having seen the new unloading installation at Someren quickly deliver greater stability and continuity in the harvest process, Verbaarschot describes the decision to deploy the same technology at the new sites as "a logical step."
Aging equipment unable to handle demand
The move was prompted by capacity constraints at the Someren site. The existing unloading machine, in use for over twenty years, could no longer handle the growing crop volume, and recurring breakdowns were causing regular production stoppages.
This led Verbaarschot to contact Rick van Roij, co-owner of NEXT Handling Solutions together with Jeffrey de Wit. Early discussions made clear that what was needed was not simply more capacity, but a system capable of handling variation in crate orientation without manual intervention.
© Next Handling Solutions
Labor savings with the help of AI
The solution that emerged combines a rotation dumper with an AI-driven crate filter. The system automatically recognises crate orientation, allowing it to process cucumbers packed both lengthways and widthways without the need for staff to intervene.
Verbaarschot had anticipated that the new technology would reduce labour hours in the greenhouse. After several months of practical experience, that expectation has been confirmed: he reports a labour saving of 12 percent on harvest hours. The combination of a reliable machine and measurable efficiency gains was sufficient reason to roll out the same installation across the two new sites.
The unloading lines for Wellerlooi and Helenaveen are currently being assembled and will be commissioned in the coming period.
For more information:
Rick van Roij
Next Handling Solutions
[email protected]
www.nexthandlingsolutions.com
