Good things happen to good people and there are very few better than everyone up at Newling Fruit Growers. These marvellous mortals had an amazing new pre-sizer installed in the Summer of 2022 (see our gushing blog post about that) which revolutionised the way they grade and pack their fruit and they haven't stopped there. This Winter they upgraded their iQS system from the performance package to the performance plus.

Look, we know its not about how many cameras you have, it's how you use them but sometimes more is just better. The upgrade of the system adds a plethora of new infrared cameras which allow the system to view defects in even more detail and across even more wavelengths to look slightly under the skin of the fruit, in order to detect the freshest of bruises. This is absolutely perfect for Newling as those sadistic sapiens like to handle the most delicate and difficult of fruits which, navigating where many others fear to tread.

The worst offender is Bramley, which as Natasha Beddingfield says, bruise easily so be gentle when you handle them. This system helps accurately identify all the emotional and physical damage as they come fresh off the tree and onto our GREEFA Combisort and into the water channels.

This is the first of such a system in the UK and just goes to show how Newling are forging the way for others to follow.

As always thank you to everyone at Newling (Rach, Edward, Edgars and Marcin) and also GREEFA too for the seemless installation (Sander and Martijn).

And breathe.......

It's safe to say this year has been rather action packed with countless installations and infinite machine services under our belts we will now let our little elves have the rest of the year off and prepare for our adventures in 2024. 

For your info, we break up from school on the 22nd December and hibernate until the 4th of January. For any urgent matters, please call the normal telephone numbers.

As always we'd like to thank everyone for their custom and friendship in 2023 and look forward to more of the same in 2024. In the meantime we'd like to wish one and all the warmest of seasonal greetings and hope you have a fabulous festive period with those you hold dearest

Feliz Navidad Amigos!

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F W Mansfield's first year of their palletisers running saw lines 5 & 6 left out; the problem children with lumps of coal for Christmas whilst the other were wrapped in cashmere with silver spoons in mouths. Well no more, come in from the cold little ones and enjoy the sweet embrace of end of line palletising. We always loved you really.

This has meant a reconfiguration of various aspects of the previous project, a perfect game of tetris has been completed to fit better than OJ's glove. The empty box infeed has switched sides and an additional strapper (I said strapper...) has been placed next to the first one to increase capacity to keep up with the palletisers. This now means there is a full pallet coming off the strappers every 4 minutes, so in the time it's taken to write this article 4836 pallets have been produced and strapped.

This plus the additional 2 palletisers means all lines are taken care and nearly fully automated. One or two more aspects and we can switch off the lights and walk away whilst the product goes from tree to shelf seamlessly without touching human hands. The last piece of the puzzle is case packers and BURG have finally created the perfect machine for the job, so watch this space for them to install and dominate the market for years to come.

This is but another part of Lee's master plan for the top fruit packhouse and my deary me how well has it come together! It's almost like he knows what he's doing...

You won't have to wait long until the next project at F W Mansfield's so keep your eyes peeled and your wits sharp. 

ACH farming have gone from strength to strength in recent years going from a relatively small shed full of graders running flat out, to a huge shed full of graders and packing machinery running flat out. Their unshakable bond with LIDL has been at the core of the rapid but controlled growth they’ve had in the past few years; not even covid could keep them apart.

After initially putting in 3 packing lines, Tom decided this wasn’t enough for the surging business and has now installed a 4th line, another BFI to add to the collection. It stands proudly next to it’s brother in arms and the crowded packhouse becomes yet more populated! This increases the capacity for flow wrapping considerably, adding another 80 ppm behemoth to the repertoire of packing possibilities for which ACH Farming are so flexible – switching between packing bags, trays and trayless packs with ease.

As well as the new BFI there is now a bagger on a roll (https://www.burgmachinefabriek.nl/en/machines/bzv-bagfiller/) to fill the new, unquenchable thirst for 2kg bags, whilst still having the ability to do any bag from 0.5kg to 3.5kg should the mood strike. This is fed quite cleverly, by the existing polybagger machines counting the apples and moving them onto a batch belt then into the BZV. This gives a capacity of around 18 bags per minute for 2kg bags and up to 30 for lower kg bags. This kind of speed with no human intervention exponentially increases efficiency and reduces cost per bag for yet further automated packing.
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As always, a big thank you to Tom Hulme for the order, Tracy Briggs for her astute eye during proceedings and our dear and fluffy Joan van Burg for his usual expertise. We look forward to our next project together with ACH Farming in the very near future! 

Is your sprayer purring like a kitten? Well that’s a sign of imminent death and you should contact us immediately for a complete overhaul. Only kidding (probably). We stand ready, willing and able to handle all sprayer servicing needs you have to throw at us this season from the trusty trailed sprayer to the gentle giant of a 3 row. We have all the parts at the ready to give the sprayer a once over and make sure all commonly perishable parts are renewed in time for their winter hibernation and spring awakening.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us today to organize your sprayer NSTS, service or purchase and we will book you into our high tech wall calendar. 

Those who book a service and NSTS simultaneously will receive a 10% discount on the NSTS certificate giving you even more reason to call us today on 01227 765069 or ping us an email at [email protected]
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Until next time, my wind demon jockeys…

Come closer, look who’s converted to the way of the Munckhof. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, the crushing realization that the green sprayers rule the windwaves comes to us all at one time or another and this is Hugh’s enlightenment. Welcome to the cult, Mr Boucher.

As Hugh’s farm evolution has progressed and his rows turn from conventional layouts to the now ubiquitous post and wire form so has his mindset in terms of spraying them. Gone are the times of infinite amounts of air and infinite amounts of spray; this is the age of the precise sprayers. We aim to penetrate the canopy of the tree to just beyond half way, ensuring when all is said and done the spray stays exactly where it’s intended, the leaf. This produces the best coverage and thus the best protection for the precious trees, optimizing health and vitality ready to bear the optimal amount of fruit.

Hugh and Gavin had engaged conversations about exactly what they’d need to balance value for money and future proofing and we have come up with the perfect package. They are now the proud owner of a fabulous sprayer which keeps them at the forefront of top fruit farming for the present and into the future thanks to the Muller computer and it’s multi-functional abilities.

If you want eternal salvation from spraying sins, it all starts with a phone call (01227 765069)
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All hail Munckhof

Well well well.....the love story continues and this time we're taking it outside. It's more of a love triangle really as Munckhof are more than a small part of it, delivering 2 brand new 3 row sprayers to F W Mansfields to continue the race towards efficient, futureproof spraying. This time the decision was taken to step into a more all encompassing multiverse and incorporate TOPCON's all singing, all dancing XD+ screen and joystick set up. This allows for the spray operator to personally create spray boundary maps which the computer remembers and can interract with any overlayed prescription maps from folks such as our friends over at Aurea imaging. This means more control over tasks and the ability to keep more in house rather than relying on other to do it for you, which always comes at a cost!

This TOPCON system was installed by the excellent LH Agro who can even log in remotely to solve any computer related issues and get you up and running ASAP as well as our fabulous engineers who can attend site and observe, diagnose and solve any problem thrown at them. 

These sprayers are without doubt the best on the market and Munckhof's relationship with Kent Fruit Services continues to blossom and bear fruit. We send our thanks to everyone at Munckhof and Craig Rook at F W Mansfields and look forward to our next project together

Munckhof ownership is a disease without any cure and it’s spreading around G H Dean like wildfire. Not even a year on from their first purchase of a one row airbag they’ve gone and purchased another. Our condolences to the now redundant older sprayer.

Having had the use of their other one for a season, Lukasz took the knowledge into this purchase and has gone for a bag with individually operated top and bottom sections, making it much easier to go from spraying younger orchard to more established, taller trees. This is on top of retaining the original, all singing, all dancing spec including; auto on/off at end of rows, hydraulically adjustable rear axle, extra hydraulic agitation (for fill and go operation) and hydraulic brakes. How does the sprayer have seemingly infinite hydraulic functions and not empty the tractor of all life force? It has it’s own oil tank on the rear for just this purpose. The tractor can keep it’s juices to itself.

Almost goes without saying these days but there is also the wonderful varimas attached too, fighting invisible wind demons left, right but not centre. This is the main contributor to the sprayer attaining a 99% drift reduction figure which is a real feat of engineering.

Like a hallmark of every good relationship we’ve stayed faithful to G H dean and they’ve stayed faithful to us. Our marriage looks settled and our love eager to grow. We hope Frasier enjoys his new toy and just thank the lord he’s grown up enough to have survived the crippling jealousy of watching Darren in his sprayer until now.
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Tim, Lukasz we thank you for the continued business and strive to provide you the service you deserve. We’ve done the double and look forward to doing the triple in the near future…!
Until next time, stay classy Sittingbourne

Thanet Earth are the latest people to succumb to BURG's charms and few come more suave and endearing than Mr Joan van Burg. The remit was to automate the palletising of (one of) Thanet Earth's many busy lines to reduce people lugging heavy trays everyday and to increase efficiency, whilst keeping the footprint as small as possible as space is always at a premium!

BURG came up trumps as always and produced palletisers which accumulate trays from all lines, raise them up and palletise from the top down, reducing the space required for the kit and allowing people to walk underneath and through them with complete safety ensured. Not only that but the attention to detail from all parties have ensured even the crates with the bail arms not completely closed are noticed and recirculated to ensure no pallet goes tumbling. 

BURG offer palletising solutions for all budgets, needs and desires with additional options for strapping, empty pallet infeeds, shuttles and AGV's to stack your completed pallets into ready positioned truck export lines. 

We'd like to extend our warmest thanks to Thanet Earth and especially Richard Bonell, Mike Howland and Tim Jennings for their scrupulous nature during the process and trust in us to deliver another fantastic project.

Have a look BURG's palletisers and other wares here and here

Munckhof have continued their trend of producing some of best sprayers around and there are few better than the airbag sprayers currently on the market. For a spray pattern that can't be beaten, creating near perfect coverage, the airbag is the go to for all modern post and wire orchards. In the current age of environmental safety, drift reduction is paramount and the one row airbag sprayer joins it's big brother in achieving the 99% drift reduction milestone. Growers can now spray with less worries on their mind, safe in the knowledge that waterways and the like only having raw sewage in and not your chemicals.

Not only is the airbag sprayer perfectly efficient and environmentally friendly but it also can spray at tree level, See the video below where a very brave Jelle is standing by a tree which is designated not to be sprayed - talk about putting your body on the line. It's unclear if he had his eyes closed but my money is on yes.

For more details about the full range of Munckhof sprayers please don't hesitate to get in touch with us today