This article continues the discussion on the profitability of investing in automation for sorting and packing. For those who haven’t had the opportunity to read it, we encourage you to click here.
Costs play an important role in calculating profitability. Let’s take a closer look at them.
The price of blueberry sorting and packing lines depends on several key factors. The first is, of course, the set of elements that make up the infrastructure for packing and sorting. It is important not only how much individual devices cost but also how they cooperate with each other. Choosing the right modules for sorting, weighing, packaging, or labeling is a significant factor determining the final price of the blueberry packing line, and thus the ROI (Return on Investment). During the investment planning stage, attention should be paid to the possibility of integrating various machines into a coherent system, which can significantly increase the efficiency of the entire packing process.
A blueberry line will be as efficient as its weakest link, so careful planning of the entire infrastructure and optimal selection of machines is crucial. By choosing to cooperate with Milbor, you can be sure that our specialists will design a compatible sorting and packing line for you. We have been operating in the market for 10 years, and our portfolio includes over 200 successful implementations. We select individual line components from catalogs of reputable machine manufacturers and from our own assortment. Impressive offerings and extensive industry experience enable us to design a line optimally tailored to your capabilities and development plans.
Prices of blueberry packing lines differ in many ways. One of the key issues is the assumed production efficiency. The desire for higher productivity may be synonymous with higher initial investment costs. At the same time, higher productivity over time translates into better sales and lower labor costs. Our multi-head weighers operate at a performance of up to 150-160 packages per minute. Furthermore, the best machines can maintain high efficiency with a low level of losses due to overweight, which also affects the ROI level, as it maximizes revenue. The key to success is to match the line’s performance to individual needs and planned production volume. A machine with higher throughput will allow you to earn more, provided you ensure a sufficient supply of fruits.
Investors should also consider whether the machine can pack blueberry portions of different capacities and into different types of containers. Market trends for blueberries are changing. In Western Europe, there is an increasing tendency for consumers to buy large fruit packages (e.g., 500 g, 750 g). When investing in a sorting and packing line for fruits, make sure to choose the Weigh&Fill machine that will allow you to handle various orders.
Another aspect to consider when assessing the profitability of investing in a blueberry packing line is the expected quality of the final product. As is widely known in the berry fruit industry, quality is a key factor that determines prices and demand for fruits. Stores buying blueberries are becoming increasingly demanding in this regard. Retail chains expect fruit suppliers to meet certain color or size parameters. Packaging, its appearance, and the material from which it is made also matter. Therefore, it is worth investing in quality control systems that will help maintain a high standard of products and increase their attractiveness to consumers. An optical sorter equipped with several cameras offers diverse fruit selection, e.g., based on color, damage, circumference, and softness—allowing products to be sold in different categories (e.g., premium blueberries, standard, for processing, frozen), thereby maximizing sales revenue by dividing them into different categories. A cheaper alternative is opening-type sorters that sort fruits by size.
Checking the price of a particular machine or even several devices forming a sorting and packing line gives a starting point for discussing investment costs, but without a better understanding of the subject, it can be misleading. Comparing numbers without interpretation is not enough. Equipment may come in different versions, and individual manufacturers offer their enhancements. Milbor’s clients can also benefit from additional conveniences. Here are some examples.
A discussion of investment efficiency would not be complete without addressing production continuity. Downtimes are a curse for vegetable and fruit producers. Machine downtime means tangible losses, which in the high season can amount to tens of thousands of euros. Therefore, it is worth investing in solutions that promote production continuity. This can be done in several ways.
How specifically does Milbor minimise the risk of unwanted machine downtime?
The aforementioned MPLC System monitors the operation of the entire line and allows for quickly diagnosing the failure responsible for the downtime. Rapid problem localization shortens the time needed to resolve it. Implementing MPLC also allows for remote access to the line’s operation by Milbor’s expert. This enables our engineer to determine the cause of the malfunction and explain its repair to the operator over the phone.
We focus on machines that are easy to clean and maintain on a daily basis. Thanks to this, hygienic procedures are less time-consuming.
Our service technicians are available to Milbor customers 24/7, even during the season. We have a team of experienced professionals who respond as quickly as possible to problems reported by customers. Furthermore, we have a set of the most important spare parts in our warehouse, located in Poland, so customers do not have to wait for parts to be transported from another continent. Many companies book periodic inspections with us before the season, which allows them to sleep peacefully during the hottest period of the year when everything should work flawlessly.
Another example of time optimization is the Tandem labeler equipped with two labeling heads. The device allows for changing roll A while roll B labels the next packages. This allows the labelling process to operate continuously, without causing downtime for the entire line.
In this text, we tried to show the diversity of machine prices, which can depend on many factors, and better (and more expensive) variants often translate into measurable benefits.
In an increasingly competitive berry fruit industry, companies that minimize operating costs win. This is made possible by modern technology, without which fruit production becomes less profitable. Success in automating production requires good planning and adaptation of devices that will work for your business project. Optimized investments in blueberry machines can pay off for the grower in as little as 2-3 years. In the case of a packing company, this return maybe even faster.
When large sums of money are at stake, there is no room for ambiguities and generalities. That’s why we invite you to contact a Milbor advisor. Fill out the form below, and soon our representative will contact you to better understand your expectations and verify how Milbor’s experiences can develop your business.
Karolina will contact you within 24 hours,
to get to know your needs better
Personalised packing and sorting lines
We provide comprehensive solutions tailored to the individual requirements of our clients. We are growing and constantly expanding our offerings, entering new segments in the fresh fruit and vegetable market. Let us design a unique line for you.
Let us design a special production line for you
