Global Pac Technologies, a New Zealand-based company, has worked with Robotics Plus to utilise cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology (AI) to increase apple production packing speeds by 40 percent.
This ground-breaking development in their apple produce packer, Aporo II, is revolutionising the efficiency of apple packing operations worldwide.
Global Pac, a joint venture between the Jenkins Group and Van Doren Sales, are market leaders in their own respective home countries of Australia, New Zealand and North America. Global Pac partnered with Robotics Plus to commercialise the Aporo produce packer.
Cameron McInness, Sales Director at Global Pac, said the partners are dedicated to delivering the most user-friendly, reliable and sustainable packing solutions.
"This significant advancement allows our valued apple customers to achieve packing rates of up to 3,800 kilograms per hour using a single rapid pack line, providing them unparalleled productivity and competitiveness in the global market," said McInness.
The Aporo II has a compact footprint ideal for retrofitting, intuitive controls that minimise operator intervention, and a design that prioritises food safety.
McInness continued that one of the critical features of Aporo II was its remarkable versatility. The packer is designed to automatically pack various materials, including paper, plastic, and fibre trays, and offers the option of tray or single-layer carton packing. Additionally, Aporo II leverages the power of AI to precisely identify tray pockets, whether they are composed of fibre, coloured PP, or paper.
In response to the demand for even greater flexibility, Aporo II now offers the capability to pack into single-layer boxes with corner covers, further expanding its application possibilities.
With packers installed in France, Italy, and Spain in 2023, McInness is delighted with the client satisfaction from European customers during the 2023 stone fruit packing season.
"It's great to hear such positive feedback from our clients. Stone fruit has been a multi-year development, and it's gratifying to see Aporo II in commercial operation in France, Italy, and Spain. We are now discussing with potential customers in Chile for the Southern Hemisphere season."
Aporo II is now fully integrated with the Internet of Things (IoT) through OPC Unified Architecture (OPC-UA). This machine-to-machine communication protocol enables the centralised management of multiple Aporo units. This functionality encompasses mode setting, fault monitoring, and performance reporting, providing operators greater monitoring and control.
Global Pac is excited to showcase Aporo II at Feria Madrid Octubre 2023 and Fruit Attraction Madrid 2023, where fellow industry peers can experience the future of automated packing first-hand.
