Herbert produce unique innovations to meet Greenvale’s tough demands
18th November 2005

How can fresh packers maintain their position in the UK potato
market? A recent interview with Greenvale AP revealed that pushing the boundaries of technology and increasing performance demands was one
key way in which to continually meet demands of their customers.

It was the encouragement by their customer Sainsbury to innovate for better solutions that prompted them to contact Herbert Engineering, a company that have now delivered technology built to Greenvales exacting specifications for over 12 years.

Greenvale presented the challenge to provide higher output and other new concepts to improve efficiencies. The two organisations worked closely together to deliver a new intake grading line which is split into five key areas resulting in faster unloading, improved cleaning and destoning, greater flexibility of sizing using multi screens and Accupack (infra-red) grading (up to nine sizes at any one time) and fully automated box handling. The result is that it is now capable of doing exactly what is needed.

According to David Baxter, General Manager for Greenvale AP, Market Drayton “We set regular challenges to Herbert Engineering that really push innovation and technology for gentle handling of potatoes to ensure we
provide the very best quality produce to our retailers. We wouldn’t have approached another engineering company to set these kind of engineering demands and tight deadlines and ended up with a totally new machine in such
a short timescale and been so pleased with the results”.

He further comments “One of the main changes that Greenvale has noticed is that they now have a highly efficient and calm working environment where output has significantly increased with controlled grading giving exceptional throughput of 20-28tph. Working conditions have also improved and a new simple user friendly interfaceis located in a central cab located in the middle of the system giving excellent viewing of the production area”.

Jo Herbert, Marketing Manager for Herbert Engineering states that “there have been a number of significant changes that have taken place in potato fresh packing some of these have had a dramatic impact on their machinery design. These include: labour costs and ongoing requirements for pension provisions; manual lifting regulations being enforced; litigation risk becoming more prevalent with the onset of increased claims for repetitive strain injuries; environmental constraints; more training to ensure staff competence and safety; and a reduction in staff numbers”

In 1989 Herbert Engineering were Greenvale’s first choice for potato handling systems, now in 2004 Greenvale choose the same partner. David Austin from Herbert’s sums it up: “As a company we have moved with the industry and our customers, driving technology changes together and incorporating the forward approach we have to research and development at Herberts. We are proud to be the preferred partner of potato handling systems for a major fresh pack supplier line Greenvale fifteen years on.”

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