The 4.0 apple

When we speak of "Industry 4.0", we think primarily of industrial products such as cars or household appliances, that are built on a fully automated assembly line. Increasingly, however, process automation also concerns activities that are considered more traditional, such as agriculture, where several previously manual processes are now carried out by robots.

A good example of this is packaging processes for apples. Thanks to SmartPackr from Greefa, a Dutch company with a branch office in Lana in South Tyrol, the fruit is automatically and intelligently packed into the packing sheet with its most beautiful side up and oriented in one direction.

The process takes place at the remarkable speed of 4 apples per second and includes sophisticated scanners, sliding belts and automatic arms enclosed in a single machine that is remotely controlled by special software. In this way, processing times and costs are significantly reduced, the risk of crushing the product is minimized and the entire production runs smoothly.

There are already 11 SmartPackr units operating in several countries and the demand for the product is constantly growing. Greefa Italia is exhibitor at Interpoma, the only fair in the world dedicated exclusively to apples.