“The robot currently picks a strawberry every five seconds”

All over the world, people are working on harvesting robots, but there wasn’t yet a robot for harvesting strawberries. After the Fruit Logistica last week, that robot has arrived on the market, because Belgian company Octinion presented the Rubion, a completely autonomous harvesting robot that can take…

"New potting machine is start of new generation of machines"

A new generation of machines. That’s how Alessandro Mazzacano proudly describes the new IA3500, that was launched by Urbinati recently. The Italian manufacturer of nursery equipment created a completely electromechanical potting machine. “The machine can be adjusted for local circumstances. This way the…

UK: Centre for Doctoral Training in Agri-Food Robotics launched

A new advanced training centre in agri-food robotics will create the largest ever cohort of Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) specialists for the global food and farming sectors, thanks to a multi-million pound funding award. The world's first Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) for agri-food robotics is being…

Cuts in labor costs, and fewer damaged strawberries on the shelves

The Belgian R&D company, the Octinion Technology Group, will present its self-driving strawberry picker at this year's Fruit Logistica. This device took five years to develop. According to the developers, this development is essential for the sector.  A robot that not only drives itself through the strawberry fields. It also detects ripe…

UK: More investments in horticultural machinery

Hortec, UK agents for Javo B.V. announces the Javo Plus M2.0. The company explains, "it can be very versatile (9cm to 32cm pots with a change-over time of about 5 minutes) and capable of bare root work and bulbs whilst, when set up as a twin system, capable of about 6,000 pots/hour." "The Javo Ecobasic can handle pots from 9cm…

"Reduced turning radii with new greenhouse cart"

Carretillas Amate is introducing a new machine for greenhouse growers: an articulated traction group to which certain accessories can be attached, in order to carry out different tasks in cultivation fields along narrow corridors defined between rows of plantations. It is made up of a front structure for driving it, where the…

Ergonomic and flexible mobile scissor lifts for tomato cultivation

In response to new directives and regulations in the field of safety, Berg Hortimotive (De Lier, NL) has completely re-engineered its Benomic range of mobile scissor lifts. The result is the ergonomic S-line series: approved by the TüV, and incorporating state-of-the-art technology to make it as…

France to see Chowbotics salad robots

Chowbotics and Bonduelle have come together to form the brand ‘Cabaletta’ for deployment in Europe. This means that 'Sally the fresh food robot' is set to make her European debut. After the robot was rigorously tested and endorsed last November, Bonduelle made a commitment to deploying several robots at their food…

"Laser marking of fresh produce has a future despite competition from other labeling methods"

"A few years ago we introduced the Solaris laser coding machine that uses a CO2 laser to burn a text or logo in fruit and vegetable products. We had a lot of demand and interest from companies, but it was a little early at the time to compete with the existing ways of packaging and labeling," says Sofie…

"Strawberry farmers should harvest with CROO"

A Florida-based technology company that’s been developing a strawberry-picking robot for years has finally started unveiling their product. Their upcoming demo for growers attending an annual industry convention in Orlando, next month, is potentially a big deal. Grain farmers have harvested their fields…

"Growing demand for automation with leaner packaging and less waste"

Growing demand for functional packaging of fresh produce that is suited for automation has prompted StePac L.A. Ltd. to tailor its branded range of Xtend® Modified Atmosphere/Modified Humidity (MA/MH) packaging solutions to be compatible with both automated bulk and retail packing lines. This move facilitates the use…

Visser Horti Systems introduces a new AutoStix-strip

Visser Horti Systems introduces a new AutoStix-strip. This multimedia strip is designed so that its plugs can be filled with any type of media. The rooting process of cuttings can therefore take place inside the plug, which provides growers with a new solution in automatic transplanting. More flexibility in automatic transplanting Automatic transplanting…

Robots that will change the industry

There is not yet a real end in sight for the growth of the world population. With the current increases, there will be an enormous growth in agricultural needs and demands. To cover these needs fast, farmers are turning their attention toward robots. From planting to growing to collecting, all functions…

Will beneficial insects and bumblebees fall victim to Brexit?

Prime Minister Theresa May suffered a defeat yesterday in British Parliament. A clear majority of 432 votes were cast against her proposal. May’s plan had the support of 202 MPs. One thing is now clear: uncertainty prevails. What will the consequences for the horticultural industry?   Beneficials & bumblebees "We've ta lked the various scenarios through, we've…

Filtration tower with vibrating screen and cloth filter

A filtration tower with a vibrating screen provides pre-filtration for the cloth filter underneath. As a result, the use of cloth can be reduced considerably in certain…

Artificial vision system on grading machine launched at Fruit Logistica

The Sorma Group range has been further expanded with an artificial vision system installed on its own SormaTech grader. InstanDEF-QI 2.0 is the new software to be launched by the Cesena-based company during Fruit Logistica in Berlin (Hall 9 stand D-13), to be held from 6 to 8 February. Designed to enable extremely precise…

Latest innovations by Checchi & Magli presented in France

Once again, Checchi & Magli, a company specializing in vegetable transplants, will attend French fair Sival in Angers (Hall C - Stand 124) from 15th to 17th January. The new Wolf Pro stands out among the innovations presented this year.  Plastic film crops have increased over the past few years and Checchi & Magli…

New Zealand: Bay of Plenty tech start-up to revolutionise fruit industry

A tech start-up in Tauranga, in the Bay of Plenty, has received international acclaim with big plans to shake up the fruit industry. They will accomplish this through the use…

"Lowering labor needed in hemp cultivation with new seeder"

The Blackmore team has developed a special seeder designed for the Ellepot machine. "The seeder is ideal for sowing hemp seed making it easy and lowers the need for labor as it reduces the steps in the production cycle", the team explains.  "The Ellepot, when used in the Ellepot AIR-tray, is ideal for field transplants as it…

New crate turners fully operated by electric power

Recently, the cherry tomato nursery, Sweet Lions from Grubbenvorst in the Netherlands, expanded their cherry tomato acreage by 5 hectares. On 11 December, the first plants went into the greenhouse. Meanwhile, the machinery has also been expanded to handle the increased productions. "We are eager to start…

"Technology undeniably makes the difference for young plant growers"

The technology in the production hall of the professional young plant grower is undeniably making the difference to produce the right young plant. More and more, young plant breeders recognize that everything depends on a uniform product according to the specifications requested by their customers. Also,…

Brussels sprouts harvest for professionals!

Humans are still preferred over robots on Japanese farms

Who could have imagined that Japan, the country that brought robots into every car factory in the world, looks set to stay resolutely old school in agriculture? This month’s vote by…

UK: Waitrose to use small robots to farm its food

Next year, autonomous robots will start cultivating wheat fields in a three year trial to help produce bread and flour for Waitrose. British agritech start-up Small Robot Company, with their robots Tom, Dick and Harry, will provide the new technology to work on the 4,000-acre Leckford Estate, Hampshire.…

Robotic harvesting is not sci-fi anymore

The development of robotic innovations becomes more achievable day by day. For instance, using a robot to harvest strawberry is not sci-fi anymore, and the results are extremely good. We had already discussed this two years ago when we showed a video illustrating the remarkable harvesting precision. Now,…

Young, urban target groups in the limelight

Above all, young, urban - and usually also affluent - buyers want healthy, sustainable and regional products. This new generation of customers is placing increasing demands on…

Machine locates fruits and measures level of ripeness

Remember the video earlier this year, in which a robot drove through the greenhouse, selected ripe tomatoes and harvested them?  Remember questioning whether it will be a real thing in the future - a machine that can detect ripe fruits, measures their location and harvests them right away? Well, we've spoken…

"Reducing power required from local utilities while providing cost saving"

Tecogen announced three separate Tecochill orders into the burgeoning indoor cultivation industry. The three projects, located in Florida and Massachusetts, collectively consist of four 150/200 ton STx Tecochill systems and two 400 ton DTx Tecochill systems. All six units are expected to be delivered and…

This futuristic vehicle could solve logistic problems of Amazon, Walmart and Target

The company that came up with Walmart's pickup towers has now developed a self-driving car that could really result in a dramatic shift in the last-mile delivery industry. A new car, called Lotte, has been presented. It is a robotic courier. It autonomously transports packages to homes and businesses and uses a…

'Efficient and modern water supply as the key to year-round tomato production'

In April 2017, Schenkeveld began constructing a new location: Schenkeveld Schiphol. Schenkeveld and their supplier Codema have been working closely together for decades. Codema has already created the water technology of new Schenkeveld construction projects twice, once in Den Hoorn and once in…

Greek students design autonomous aquaponics system

Two Greek teams that participated in the Robotics Olympiad 2018, held in Thailand, have taken home a fourth place in the world, as they competed against 63 countries, including robotics’ giants’ Russia, China and Japan. The Greek junior high school team was from Panorama, Galatsi while the senior students came from…

Give your truck wings and improve the aerodynamics

Wings on your truck may seem to be of little use, but they do improve the aerodynamics. At high speed, the wings unfold and at low speed they fold back. The advantage of these wings is the fuel saving effect.

Google to take Wing delivery drones to Europe in 2019

Next year, Google's parent company Alphabet will test its drone delivery service in Finland. It announced that Helsinki will be the first European location for Wing, which has been testing drones in Australia. Its aircraft will deliver packages weighing up to 1.5 kg within minutes of an order being placed. Several companies,…

"Greater airflow means better cash flow"

Today’s competitive business environment means that, like a lot of other growers, you’re probably expected to do more with less. Produce young plants of the highest environmental standards with less manpower, reduced timescales and fewer resources. Looking at your existing set-up, it might be difficult to see…

Cruisin' through the greenhouse

Now you can inspect and manage elevated products and growing plants up to 12 feet high using the Cruiser Traveling Ladder.  As the unit is only 20 inches wide it gives complete accessibility through narrow aisles. It has a battery running charge that runs 9 to 15 miles up to 5 miles per hour on a single charge and is OSHA compliant. Weight capacity is…

China: Advanced digital phenotyping system for Nanjing Agricultural University

PhenoKey just completed the turnkey delivery of an advanced digital phenotyping system for Nanjing Agricultural University in China. This 600 pots system with advanced RGB and Kinetic Chlorophyll Fluorescence/ Multi spectral imaging units, is installed inside a greenhouse situated prominently at the…

US research: Robotic hands, sensitive enough to pick soft fruit

A new breed of robots with humanoid hands capable of performing delicate tasks such as picking soft fruit has been made possible by a technological breakthrough from Stanford University scientists. Researchers in the US have developed electronic gloves designed to give robots an improved ability to touch and grasp…