A technological development in grape sizing in Africa could see huge savings on labour and increased productivity.
The Vizier grape sizer, a South African invention, is revolutionising the way grapes are sorted, increasing profitability and productivity.
The sizer uses object recognition technology and makes conveyer belt decision-making signals, allowing packaging lines to save up to 20 per cent on lost grapes and 60 per cent on labour.
Capespan associate company Rapiprop installed a Vizier grape sizer at Arendsnes in Blouputz, Namibia, to increase the current punnet capacity to 100,000 cartons for the season.
The one-lane cup grape sizer can weigh bunches accurately at a speed of two cups a second. It is able to produce bunches of grapes ready for packaging within a programmable weight range.
Capespan commercial manager for deciduous fruit, Jaco Smit, said: “We’ve noted additional significantly advantageous features: packers’ productivity improved on average by 70 per cent. Average weight gains per punnet of more than 20gm were possible thanks to the machine’s accuracy.”
Rapiprop, a joint venture between Capespan, Total Produce plc and the Cape Empowerment Trust, operates farms in South Africa. These produce some 2.5 million cartons of predominantly black, red and white seedless table grapes annually on around 800 hectares along the Orange River.
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