Machinery & Equipment

The implementation of advanced technology allowed the company to optimise their fruit selection, grading and packaging processes, ensuring that each product meets the highest international standards. (Image source: TOMRA Foods)

An emerging company, TransIberian Foods (TIF) has chosen the flexibility, efficiency and quality offered by TOMRA Food and installed the KATO 260 precision grading system powered by LUCAi Artificial Intelligence technology, and two CURO filling stations

The company has chosen TOMRA Food’s advanced blueberry grading and filling solutionsfor its blueberry packing line. With the TOMRA KATO 260 advanced, industry-leading precision grading system with LUCAi Artificial Intelligence technology and two TOMRA CURO filling stations, it achieves the extreme flexibility needed to meet the varied and demanding requirements of its international customers.

TransIberian Foods has 20,000 sq m of refrigerated space with 14 docks and is currently expanding its operations with the development of a new project focused on the refrigeration, ripening, and packaging of avocados and other tropical fruits, both locally produced and imported. 

Manager of TransIberian Foods, Jesús Cruz explained that due to the diversity in the origin of the blueberries, they were looking for a packaging line that was extremely flexible, capable of handling all the commercial formats required by European supermarkets for our clients. "This meant having the ability to quickly adapt to different sizes and types of packaging, from small trays for individual portions to larger containers for wholesale. TOMRA has enabled us to offer a wide range of options to our clients, companies that distribute to European supermarkets, adapting to their needs and market demands,” added Cruz.

TOMRA Food expressed that they were pleased with the Translberian Foods project, highlighting that Translberian Foods were looking for advanced technology solutions to address this challenge. The implementation of advanced technology allowed the company to optimise their fruit selection, grading and packaging processes, ensuring that each product meets the highest international standards. This precision and efficiency is not only essential for maintaining the integrity, but also the quality of the final product, from reception to delivery.

The packaging process at TransIberian Foods begins with the fruit being fed into the KATO 260 sorter, optimising its performance. The fruit is gently loaded into the KATO 260, ensuring a continuous supply and uniform distribution in the sorter. Next, the KATO 260 exclusive rolling conveyor system inspects the fruit’s surface from all angles. Cameras capture multiple images of each piece of fruit, and the machine's software can identify defects as small as 0.2 mm at high speed for precise grading. 

A valuable optional enhancement for the KATO 260 is the LUCAi software and hardware package, which uses AI to achieve unparalleled accuracy in fruit sorting and grading. After each piece of fruit moves along the sorting line, it is photographed by multiple cameras. LUCAi identifies and indicates how each blueberry should be graded. Capable of processing up to 2,400 images per second, LUCAi can also view the fruit in wavelengths not visible to the human eye, detecting subtle defects such as dehydration, bruising, and early anthracnose.

At the end of the line, the fruit is processed by a packing system featuring two CURO16 units, each with 16 filling stations. These units boost productivity by reducing human handling errors and fruit loss. They weigh with precision, and can simultaneously pack for different markets. This system is the fastest weight-based filling solution on the market, capable of handling up to 200 packs of 125 g of fruit per minute. Moreover, TOMRA Food’s equipment also offers exceptional packing flexibility.

"With TOMRA Food’s solution, we can quickly adapt to market demands and efficiently manage demand spikes during peak seasons," concluded Cruz. "We are extremely satisfied with the advanced sorting technology, as it enables us to handle fruit from various sources effectively and ensures we deliver high-quality products.” 

SOLASTA Bio aims to play a leading role in the transition toward sustainable crop protection. (Image source: SOLASTA Bio)

In an attempt to accelerate the development of its unique peptide-based, nature-inspired bioinsecticides, leading agri-biotech company, SOLASTA BIO has completed an oversubscribed US$14mn Series A funding round, attracting major investors including Forbion, FMC Ventures and Corteva Catalyst

The investment round was led by Forbion through its BioEconomy fund strategy with co-lead investment from agricultural strategics FMC Ventures (FMC Corporation) and Corteva Catalyst (Corteva, Inc). SOLASTA Bio has developed the world's first technology platform for creating insect control agents that are nature-inspired rather than selected from a synthetic chemistry library. 

Besides meeting the efficacy standards of current chemicals on the market, these environmentally friendly agents address a growing global need for effective crop protection by selectively targeting insect pests while protecting beneficial pollinators such as bees. SOLASTA Bio’s platform can be mobilised for any pest of interest, across both crop and non-crop applications such as stored grain. 

With the investment round secured, SOLASTA Bio will continue to advance its technology platform and pipeline of insect control agents, targeting a US$27bn annual market opportunity. In parallel, the business will continue to build out its US operations, having already established a base in North Carolina, expand its real-world field trials across key geographies, scale-up its biomanufacturing capabilities and further develop strategic opportunities including applications beyond crop use.

With the urgent need to protect pollinators and wildlife, while boosting agricultural productivity, SOLASTA Bio aims to play a leading role in the transition toward sustainable crop protection. The company is targeting market entry as early as 2027 – at least half the time traditionally taken by synthetic pest control products - demonstrating a significant advantage of the platform technology.

“SOLASTA Bio has come a long way since we set out on this journey three years ago. Having established operations in the UK and US, we’ve now got an international team with outstanding competencies in technology and agribusiness and, importantly, we have developed our unique technology platform to address grower pain points," said FRSE, CEO and co-founder of SOLASTA Bio, Shireen Davies PhD. "The results of our field trials have been hugely encouraging, demonstrating high efficacy of biopeptides against target insect pests, as effective or better than standard insecticides. With Series A now secured, it’s time for SOLASTA Bio to kick on to the next level and successfully hit our targets for commercialisation.”

The new LEMKEN Competence Center Crop Care has been built at the Dutch site in Dinteloord. (Image source: LEMKEN)

The new LEMKEN Competence Centre Crop Care was constructed in Dinteloord (near Rotterdam) in the Netherlands in February 2023

Within a record-breaking nine months, as early as October 2023, the largest construction phase for the production department was put into operation and the first LEMKEN blue hoeing machines were delivered to customers. With the construction of the new factory, LEMKEN has fully integrated the hoeing technology it acquired from Steketee in 2018 into its own brand world. 

In the following months, everything from the offices to the cafeteria and the façades were completed and occupied. Dinteloord specialises in the development and production of crop care technology. It will also be home to the Competence Center Crop Care for farmers, experts and universities, which will form part of the global network of LEMKEN sites. For this purpose, a sophisticated technical auditorium has been built next to the AgroForum exhibition area, where events and training courses can be held in an optimal environment. 

Production is divided into three areas: 

- The manufacturing area: This includes the manufacturing and preparation of parts for the paint line.

- The warehouse: Pre-produced parts and components from suppliers are received and stored in the warehouse.

- Pre-assembly and assembly areas: Assembly takes place in these areas. The plant is set up for stationary assembly and currently has eight assembly stations, which can be expanded as required to accommodate larger machines. Free-floating cranes offer maximum flexibility.

The final inspection which involves two fully equipped test stations ensures the quality and functionality of each machine prior to leaving the factory. 

“The new LEMKEN factory in Dinteloord stands for innovation, efficiency and sustainability in the agricultural machinery industry and will play a central role in meeting our customers’ future requirements," said partner Nicola Lemken. "We are therefore very excited about its opening."

The Thulit MF/1200 harrow which is now available in small quantities, will start its series production in March 2025. (Image source: LEMKEN)

LEMKEN presents Thulit MF/1200, its first weeder harrow with more than 12 m working width

The new model is based on the innovative properties of the Thulit MF product series launched last year. The design with four bars and eight rows of harrow tines and hydraulic tine pressure adjustment is unique on the market. The tine pressure can be continuously adjusted from 100 g to 5,000 g across the entire width during travel and remains constant at every setting – for optimum and reliable work results.

The new Thulit MF/1200 comprises five harrow sections, with various folding options available for different applications. For greater ground clearance at the headland, LEMKEN offers the option of folding the weeder harrow into a V position. To do this, the outer folding segments are angled slightly upwards to prevent the tools from coming into contact with the ground. For convenient and safe road transport, the weeder harrow can be folded in on both sides to a transport height of 3.3 m. The automatic transport locking system is active in all variants, making manual intervention a thing of the past.

For the frame, LEMKEN uses torsion-resistant support profiles that guarantees both stability and low weight. The frame design with six support wheels at the front, distributed across the entire working width, has an extremely positive effect on the smooth running of the machine and thus on the guidance of the harrow tines to the soil surface. The Thulit MF/1200 can additionally be operated as a rigid implement or with ground contour adjustment.

Customers opting for the rigid frame will not need the optional support wheels behind the side panels. If the individual working sections of the weeder harrow are to follow the soil horizon at all times, the Thulit must be equipped with additional rear support wheels. This ensures maximum flexibility and perfect working results on hilly terrain. Precisely adjustable trailing harrows on the rear support wheels eradicate wheel marks and leave loosened weeds on the soil surface to dry out. 

The Thulit MF/1200 harrow which is now available in small quantities, will start its series production in March 2025.