Labor availability and rising costs are increasing the focus on automation in fresh produce packing operations, but attention is gradually extending beyond the performance of an individual packaging machine. Growers and packers are looking at labor requirements, product loss, weighing accuracy and how efficiently the entire line operates.

“Finding and keeping good employees is a big challenge for most of our customers,” says Joost Somford of JASA Packaging Solutions. “At the same time, costs are increasing and growers and packers need to keep their production efficient. They also need to work with different products, packaging sizes, and materials.” Automation can help address some of those challenges by reducing labor requirements while improving consistency throughout the packing process. Somford says customers are also looking for equipment that is easy to operate, clean and maintain, particularly as packing operations handle a wider variety of products and packaging formats.

“The focus has become broader than the speed of one machine,” he says. “Customers want to know how the complete line will perform, how many people they need to run it, and what support is available when they need help. They also want equipment that fits their operation today and allows them to grow in the future.”

© JASA Packaging Solutions US

Automation opportunities extend beyond packaging machine
According to Somford, some of the greatest opportunities for additional automation can be found before and after the packaging machine itself. Feeding and weighing product, transferring it between machines and packing finished bags or trays into cases can all affect overall line performance.

“Even with a fast packaging machine, manual work elsewhere can slow down the whole line,” he explains. “We look at the complete process with the customer to see where automation would make the biggest difference.”

That does not necessarily require replacing an entire packing line. Automating or improving one part of an existing operation can sometimes provide a practical first step. Flexibility is another priority, particularly when operations need to switch between products or packaging sizes without lengthy interruptions to production.

© JASA Packaging Solutions US

Opportunities in raw and processed vegetables
Raw and unprocessed vegetables have traditionally represented an important market for JASA, particularly potatoes, onions and carrots packed using vertical bagging equipment. In the U.S., however, the company is also witnessing growth in processed vegetables, including leafy greens and fresh-cut products.

The requirements of these operations place additional emphasis on cleaning, flexibility and ease of operation. JASA sees this segment as an opportunity to build on its existing fresh produce activities with its NXXT generation of vertical packaging machines.

At the same time, the company is preparing a new range specifically for the raw and unprocessed vegetable segment. Before the end of the year, JASA plans to introduce its S-Line, a new range of NXXT vertical baggers, or VFFS machines. “With the S-Line, we are bringing our many years of experience in this market into the NXXT generation,” shared Somford. While further details have not yet been released, the new equipment will be designed specifically around the requirements of raw and unprocessed vegetables.

© JASA Packaging Solutions USBroader role in complete packing lines
JASA is also looking to increase the portion of a complete fresh produce packing line it can supply itself. Somford says another company development, which has not yet been announced, will add a new range of JASA-owned machines to its offering.

“We have some very exciting news coming soon. A major step forward for JASA,” he says. “We will be adding a whole new range of our own machines to our offering, allowing us to supply more of the complete line ourselves and do even more for our customers.” That direction reflects the broader shift Somford is seeing among growers and packers: rather than evaluating individual machines primarily on speed, customers increasingly want to understand how equipment works together across the entire packing process and where automation can reduce bottlenecks and labor requirements.

IFPA
Somford and his colleagues will be available to discuss these developments with customers, growers and packers during IFPA’s Global Produce & Floral Show in Orlando on October 15 and 16 at booth #2314. “We look forward to discussing how we can help improve their packaging operations, whether they want to upgrade an existing line or are planning a new facility. It is also a good opportunity to hear what customers need for the future and take that input back to our team.”

For more information:
Joost Somford
JASA Packaging Solutions
Tel: (+1) 804 290 3683
[email protected]
www.jasapackaging.com