Fostering true partnerships for automated fruit packing
At Hawk Technology, we work tirelessly with our customers to create automated fruit packing solutions that are future-proof. Combining global best practices and innovation, we believe in creating true partnerships in order to achieve the best results.
“The machines are just faultless. They haven't stopped since we put them in.”
New Zealand's flagship Gen 5 packing shed
Company: Mt Erin
Their challenge: Improving the consistency of fruit presentation for export markets while finding a solution that could fit within their existing packhouse and budget.
Our solution: Gen 5 Hawk Robotic Packer
Mt Erin installed ten Gen 5 robotic packers and ten tray denesters, becoming New Zealand's flagship Gen 5 packing shed. The compact machines were retrofitted into the existing packhouse and integrated with their grading system. Leasing the equipment also made the upgrade affordable by avoiding a large upfront capital investment.
Mt Erin immediately saw the following benefits:
improved consistency of fruit presentation for export markets
reliable, continuous packing with minimal downtime
easy to operate, with staff trained in just 10-15 minutes
leasing made automation accessible as an operating expense
strong partnership with Hawk Technology, with responsive local support and "faultless" machines.
Robotic apple packers and denesters
Company: Freshco Ltd
Their challenge: Looking to grow their business with automation
Our solution: Retrofitting robotics into their existing manual tray filling lines
The Fresh Fruit Company of New Zealand (Freshco Ltd) retrofitted Hawk Technology robotic apple packers and denesters to their existing manual tray filling lines. Staffing issues during COVID as well as a need for growth led Freshco to work together with our team to improve packhouse efficiencies through automation.
Freshco experienced the following benefits:
machinery was designed, delivered and installed in the promised time
the tried and tested machines have consistently delivered colour side up fruit into the cartons with no bruising
staff were meticulously trained and confident to use the machines accurately from day one
the Hawk Technology systems were integrated to work seamlessly with existing software.
“The Hawk machines have improved our throughput - no doubt about that.”
“The support from Hawk has been 100% … they work faultlessly.”
A semi automated apple packing line
Company: Freshmax
Their challenge: The expense of automated solutions
Our solution: A trial of our new technology to see the benefits
Freshmax had found in the past that automation was expensive, but knew that times were changing and they had to find a way to add some automation to their packhouse. We spoke to them about a 6 lane trial of our new technology, which increased to 20 permanent lanes when they saw the efficiencies it would create. The tray denesting, tray in box inserter and carton handling solution was installed in 2021.
Freshmax immediately saw the following benefits:
increased efficiency - guaranteed throughput without the human factor
guaranteed shipping targets were achieved
strong partnership with Hawk Technology - “would recommend without a doubt”.
A fully automated packing solution
Company: Sunfruit
Their challenge: Labour shortages and reduced productivity
Our solution: One of the world’s first fully automated apple packing lines
Sunfruit came to us to look at new technology and ways of working due to the unavailability of labour and wanting to improve the throughput of their packhouse. In 2022, we installed a tray denesting, apple packing, tray in box inserter and carton handling solution in the first step of a multi-stage fully automated packing line installation.
Sunfruit saw the following benefits:
improved efficiency in the packhouse
increased productivity - more fruit per hour per person
the technology was easy to understand and implement with user-friendly touchscreens and visuals
being at the pinnacle of technology within apple/fruit packing.
“Hawk Technology were a great group of guys to work with.”
Hawk Technology are leaders in robotic packing solutions for post harvest horticulture. From design to installation, we offer cutting-edge solutions to maximise packhouse efficiencies and outputs for our customers worldwide.
CONTACT
Call us
0508 429 572 (NZ) or
+64 6 872 9100
Visit us
70-82 Whakatu Road
Whakatu, Hastings
Hawkes Bay 4180
New Zealand