“The new grader has halved the g r a d i n g t i m e , i n c r e a s e d productivity, is 100% accurate and never damages the squash. Once the computer is set, we don’t have to fiddle with the weights. The different size button squash go in to the right packing boxes every single time” said Donna.

When asked for one word to describe their Electronic Circular Weight Grader, Donna simply said “excellent”.

Kevin and Donna are also extremely happy with the follow up service that they have received from KW Automation.

WHAT'S NEW ?WHAT'S NEW ? Horticultural News From KW Automation

Volume 1 Issue 3 Nov/Dec 2007

Electronic Circular Grader squashes time and saves money

or approximately fifteen years, Kevin and Donna FBills have been growing

crops on their Bullyard farm s i tuated near Gin Gin in Queensland.

Today, on their 200 acres, they employ 13 pickers and 3 packers. Their crops include button squash, eggplant and continental eggplant.

In the early days all of the grading and packing was tediously done by hand. So when Kevin and Donna purchased a mechanical circular weight grader in 1995 they really noticed the difference. Productivity and efficiency increased dramatically.

However, it was when they were at the Agrotrend Show in Bundaberg last year that they first saw a KW Electronic Circular Weight Grader. They knew it was time to replace their old grader with a much more efficient one.

“The mechanical grader did the job but the electronic one is a more economical machine” said Donna.

Since purchasing their Electronic Circular Weight Grader, Kevin a n d D o n n a h a v e n o t i c e d significant differences.

The KW Electronic Circular Weight Grader has the capacity to grade 7 different size fruits.

Over the years KW graders have been customised to sort many different types of product.

Button squash, oysters, black bean tree seed and potatoes are just some of the produce KW have customised their machines to handle.

Since 1987 KW Automation has sold over 466 Circular Graders.

For more information contact KW Automation on 07 5445 9549.

Electronic Circular Weight Grader

The Low Profile Electric Lift Table:. Removable lifting eyes to facilitate handling and installation of the table.. External power pack equipped with a relief valve against overloading and compensating flow valve for controlling lowering speed.. Achieves a low profile, eliminating the need to pit installation.. Available in 2 capacities: 1000kg and 2000kg. Prices start from $3000.00 (ex GST).

Destalking with ender ychee areT L CT L C

SET UP: necessary. ! Remove leaf matter off ! Ideally fruit and ! Pre-season set up is ! Fruit should not be larger bunches and cut to panicles are kept parallel critical - spend time to friction burnt and stems panicles of 6 to 8 fruit. to the sides of the machine “fine tune” equipment. should not be ripped out. If Avoid putting too much when fed in.! Speed of motor is set at they are, keep adjusting. A leaf litter through. ! At the end of the run point “7”. When the motor fairly universal setting will Destalker. period, remove any runs too fast fruit will work for all fruit varieties. ! Within half an hour of remaining fruit left along suffer friction burn, can ! Check and maintain harvesting fruit, crates are the rollers under the tangle and good destalked equipment prior to each put in cold room, rubber.fruit can be thrown out. season. pelletised and cold water ! If stems are ripped, not ! The two pressure “T”s bathed to about 10 degrees being separated or fruit is are adjusted to 110mm celsius. friction burned, stop and OPERATION:under the cantilever. ! Cool and wet fruit are adjust.! Harvest fruit in the Weights are set back taken to the destalker and ! Conduct induction morning while conditions 190mm from open end of a crate at a time is emptied sessions for staff and are cool. Fruit which is the cantilever. Incorrect into the receiving chute of training on operation of picked hot and destalked setting will cause stem the Destalker and then fed Destalker. Rotate jobs may become “rubbery” to tearing or destalking into the machine. throughout the day. Each touch even when kept in failure. ! Feed fruit evenly Destalker can handle about cool room.! Trial runs of cool (10C) across the first roller. Take 250kg per hour.! Bunch picked fruit, wet fruit (without leaf care not to “clump” large ! Clean the unit daily, when harvesting, into matter) are put through. feeds. Control feed speed with cleaner and hose plastic field crates. Keep Minor adjustment of “T”s by watching the grading pressure water, to avoid shaded and covered with and weights will be table feed. residue build-up.wet cloth.

or the Murphy family, To make the handling Dennis says optimal KW Automation would Fgrowing ly chees h as operation more efficient, in performance is dependent like to thank Dennis for been a way of life since 1977. 2001 Dennis purchased two upon implementing some providing the following tips Dennis Murphy recalls that KW Destalkers and two KW very simple preparation and on how to suc ces sfu lly his parents initially planted Inspection Conveyors. operation steps. operate a Lychee Destalker. five varieties of lychees on “We find them key pieces their land near Yeppoon, Qld. o f e q u i p m e n t i n o u r In 1988 he branched out and operation” said Dennis. established his own orchard “We often wonder how on nearby. earth we did without them”. T o d a y D e n n i s h a s Of the 12 varieties of approximately 2,400 netted lychees grown, 8 of them are tr ee s an d pr od uc es 12 able to be processed through varieties of lychees. the KW Destalker. As the orchard grew it These varieties include: became difficult to handle F Z S, Tai So, Bengal, Haak the volumes of fruit. The Yip, Early Souey Tung, Wai destalking process was Chee, Kwai Mai Pink, No especially tedious. Mai Chee and Sweet Cliff.

KW Lychee Destalker

For more information contact KW Automation on 07 5445 9549

Tips for Successful Destalking

LIFT WITH EASE AND GIVE YOUR BACK A BREAK LIFT WITH EASE AND GIVE YOUR BACK A BREAK

Purchase your Low Profile Electric Lift Table by March 2008 and receive a FREE Pallet Truck.

Label Press is a well labels and tags on either products to suit different their high amount of known name in the rolls or sheets, Label requirements.” interstate and labelling business. Press also has speciality In 2003, Label Press intrastate business. Founded in 1980, products, like tomato moved their business to

For more information on their Label Press is a family truss tags, to suit the Carole Park, on the products, contact Label Press

owned and operated horticulture market. outskirts of Brisbane. on: Freecall: 1800 773 207 company that has “Our label printing Being close to all major

or expertly managed to machines are designed to highways enables Label 07 3271 2111

keep up with the produce a high quality Press to keep up with

demanding labelling and image at optimum packaging industry and speeds,” said Mr its evolving technology. Hornbuckle. Label Press sales and “We are able to print marketing manager said seven colour, foiling, 2 their speciality is fruit colour backprinting labelling and fruit and/or pamphlet labels. packaging. This allows our clients to “Our long design a high quality relationship with this label or tag that will grab industry closely the eye of consumers.familiarises us with the “We also sell and pressing requirements of service inline and hand food processing.” held label applicators, Able to produce all offering a range of

Horticultural News From KW Automation

Volume 1 Issue 2 July 2001

Did you know...Avocados Australia is presenting a series of R&D Road Shows to growers throughout the country.This year, South Australia has produced a

bumper navel orange crop.

Research shows that persimmon fruit may help with hangovers.

!

!

!

Forgotten something? Pomegranate juice is beneficial for boosting memory.

For daily worldwide fruit and vege news visit...Global Fresh Produce at:

www.freshplaza.com

Did you know...

Hydroponics Farm Welcomes Seeding LineHydroponics Farm Welcomes Seeding Lineituated near Childers, and their whole heads of S3 2 5 k m n o r t h o f lettuce every 3½ weeks.

Brisbane, Clean Green They also have three Hydro grows and packs other farms (with a fourth hydroponic fancy lettuce commencing construction and cut salads. soon) which supply Eight years ago, Brian whole heads of fancy Ellis and Dan Buckley, lettuce. These farms, with Keith Ellis as an operated by individual investor, bought a scrub growers under contract to block. Working seven Clean Green Hydro, days a week over ten adhere to the company’s weeks, Brian and Dan high production standards.built the first stage of their In the early days of farm which included their operation, Brian and 10,000 growing holes, Dan used a commercial sheds and other infrastruc- nursery to supply their ture. They planted their seedlings. Five years ago first seedlings and five they built a small tunnel weeks later picked their house to enable them to first crop. grow their own seedlings. From this initial stage, Initially the seeding Brian and Dan have was done by hand with a expanded their facility so hand operated small that today they have vacuum seeder. 90,000 growing holes of In 2006 Clean Green which a large portion is Hydro expanded their dedicated to cut salads. salad washing and pack During summer, Clean line sheds to accommo-Green Hydro averages one date a KW Automation full rotation of their salad A35 Seeder, VM100 Tray tables every two weeks Dispenser and

VM100 Dispenser/Vermiculite FillerVermiculite Filler. b e n c h e s a n d w a t e r

The purpose built KW recycling.Tray Dispenser has been This has stream lined specifically designed for the operation providing the hydroponics industry. labour savings, and a

‘It works well and has more comfortable work never missed a beat since environment.the day it was installed. It C u r r e n t l y C l e a n saves us several hundred Green Hydro seeds 150 to dollars in labour each 200 trays and produces week,’ says Brian. 3 0 , 0 0 0 t o 4 0 , 0 0 0

This year Clean Green seedlings each week.Hydro commissioned a Brian is grateful for new nu r se ry w i th the support they receive concrete floor, rolling from the KW team.

Family business brings innovation to labels

anagement & Staff would like to wish you a Mvery Merry Christmas and a

prosperous New Year.

Thank you for your support during 2007.

We look forward to being of service to you in 2008.

Please note:

We will be closed over the festive season from the

21st December to 7th January 2008.

If you would like further information on KW Equipment or any of the articles that appear in the KW Newsletter, please contact a KW Representative near you.

QUEENSLAND NORTHERN TERRITORY

KW Automation Farmworld NT Pty LtdMichael Weisenberger David SandersonOld Bowling Green Road P.O. Box 2823Palmwoods, Qld 4555 Ph: 08 8983 3199Ph: 07 5445 9549 Mobile: 0417 833 894Fax: 07 5445 0499 Fax: 08 8983 3177Mobile:0419 759 559 Email: topendtractors@ozemail.com.auEmail:michaelweisenberger@kwautomation.com.au

NEW SOUTH WALES NEW ZEALAND WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Kevin Hitchcock Egmont Commercial Ltd Premium PlasticsOld Northern Road Sonia Webb Mark LovellMaroota NSW 2756 341 Marshs Road PO Box 1403Ph: 02 4566 8202 Halswell, Christchurch Wangara WA 6065Mobile: 040 966 8200 New Zealand Ph: 08 9302 1633Fax: 02 4566 8202 Ph: 64 3 3495 546 Fax: 08 9302 1644Email: kevinhitchcock@kwautomation.com.au Fax:: 64 3 3497 461 Email:info@premiumplastics.com.au Email: sonia@egmont commercial.co.nz

New Representative

Do you protect your investment in your machinery with regular servicing and maintenance?

To have your servicing performed at competitive rates by factory trained personnel contact the KW distributor in your area or ring KW Automation direct on 07 5445 9549

MAINTENANCE

Need more information? CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE

www.kwautomation.com.au

For all your spare part orders KWAutomation accepts ...

KW

BILL

Super Deal!

FOR SALE:

4m x 1m Mango Desapper complete with Mango Wash Injection Pump

BRAND NEW, IN STOCK AND READY FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY

For special “one-off” price call KW Automation:

07 5445 9549