Equipment launches prove pivotal in transforming throughput for UK grower Two of the newest machines within Tong Engineering’s wide range of vegetable handling equipment are proving invaluable in transforming post-harvest operations for Hampshire-based potato grower, Whitewater Potatoes. Both the company’s mobile cleaning and loading powerhouse, the FieldLoad PRO, and high capacity MonstaFill box filler were launched as part of a suite of new product developments from Tong throughout 2019 and 2020, focusing on streamlining the handling process with the gentlest handling, and maximum efficiency and throughput in mind. And, during their first demanding season of 2020, both machines have made light work of cleaning and loading crops at very high capacities, reducing manual operations by almost 50 per cent for Whitewater Potatoes in Hook, Hampshire. The established potato company grows 1,900 acres of potatoes, both on its main site at Lodge Farm in Hampshire, and on land in Scotland. With a farm team that plant, manage, harvest and store an impressive 30,000t of potatoes for the crisp market, Whitewater Potatoes relies on a swift and efficient post-harvest process that allows it to keep up with market demands. “With the need to process high
volumes of potatoes straight from the field, we decided to review our existing operations in order to maximise throughput and minimise labour requirements,” explained Gavin Janaway, managing director at Whitewater Potatoes. “After our initial discussion with Tong, we could see that the EasyClean separator was going to provide the cleaning capabilities we need, and the FieldLoadPRO was the machine for us. After some consideration of the different box filling options, it was clear that the throughput capabilities of the MonstaFill would take our capacity potential to the next level.” Featuring a high-capacity in-feed hopper, the FieldLoadPRO at Whitewater Potatoes gently receives harvested crop directly from trailers from the field before crop is transferred to Tong’s EasyClean separator and highspeed PU coil unit, which ensures effective cleaning of crop in all conditions. Crop is then inspected within the machine’s insulated inspection cabin before it is gently transported via the remote-
controlled cart elevator to the MonstaFill box filler. Manufactured to gently and evenly fill 1t boxes, the MonstaFill features a 2.5m3 capacity holding hopper at each end of the machine’s main crop conveyor. Whilst the machine can fill boxes to level, the hopper tanks are also fitted with integrated loadcells which allow them to fill to a pre-determined weight ready for discharge into boxes. Once one hopper is full, the conveyor begins to fill the second hopper. The machine detects when an empty box is presented by the forklift and the hopper discharges crop into the box as it is lowered by the forklift. The process means that the forklift then takes the full box away and returns with an empty box to repeat the process. There is no waiting for the forklift, ensuring a truly continuous box filling process. “Before we added the new Tong equipment, we were operating one grader and two box fillers, with a total of seven operators required. The new set-up requires a maximum of just four operators, and often only requires three. So the new system runs with around half as many operators, and is also capable of processing almost 25 per cent more crop; with capacities of up to 90t/hour. The way in which the MonstaFill operates with fewer
forklift movements and a simple ‘full box out, empty box in’ process, really does make a significant difference to how quickly we can process the crop with the new system,” explained Mr Janaway. Tong Engineering sales manager, Richard Knighton commented: “The new system at Whitewater Potatoes is performing extremely well. The FieldLoad PRO is receiving high volumes of crop straight from the field and providing very effective cleaning and gentle transfer of crop to the MonstaFill. The discharge mechanism of the filler’s holding hoppers means a very even fill of each box, allowing fewer forklift operators to swiftly exchange full boxes for empty ones and achieve a very continuous box filling operation.” Mr Janaway concluded: “We’re very pleased with the new postharvest system. The FieldLoad PRO and the MonstaFill have made it very easy for us to process large volumes of crop daily. Tong’s family heritage and reputation for quality design and build made them a natural choice for us. Their latest equipment is very much designed to perform in the most demanding handling situations, and it has certainly made it quicker and easier for us to efficiently process much higher volumes of crop on a daily basis.” FG
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