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Food Distribution Case Studies
CPC International Apple Co.
Key System Solutions: EZLogic® Accumulation, Pallet Handling Conveyors
Product Handles: Apples
CPC International sought out a new packing model for their facility. The goal was to turn three pack lines into a single system, and to expand the variety and volume of apples the company could process. Hytrol and the integration partner worked with CPC International to help turn concept into reality.
The fruit wholesaler needed to increase throughput, despite labor challenges in their industry. Before the system, the company would have had to quadruple their staff. After the system was implemented, the fruit producer was able to maintain their current staffing level while also increasing the number of boxes being processed.
The system features over two miles of Hytrol conveyors utilizing EZ Logic® on two stories. The boxes are then moved to cold storage areas—one featuring 52 lanes of accumulation. Hytrol’s pallet handling conveyors are instrumental in keeping the boxed apples steadily moving to the wrapping station and into the warehouse.
Pacific Coast Cherry Packers
Key System Solutions: EZLogic® Accumulation
Product Handles: Cherries
PCCP uses cases to convey cherries quickly during peak season. Cherries must be harvested, packed and on a retailer’s shelf in a matter of days. Their new solution needed to be cost-effective, utilizing Sage’s existing material handling equipment while creating a robust sortation system that could handle the increasing throughput rates and number of SKUs.
Because of a project on Sage Fruit’s apple picking line, Verbrugge knew he wanted to utilize Hytrol’s accumulation conveyor. The company soon found an integration partner that could implement the system.
Cases at PCCP are manually inducted into two lines with five merge points each. Using logic to control the pressure of the product, individual break meters release cases into the takeaway lines and into the stampers. They’re then consolidated into a single line using a 2-to-1 merge and travel into the sortation area. In the sorter, cases are justified, gapped, scanned, tracked, and diverted into their assigned lanes, where they are palletized and prepared for shipping.
“I look at dependability. I look at service, reliability in terms of them being able to follow through with what they say they can do, and also [do so] on a budget—so that people can come in on time, on budget, and back up what they do with reliable service,” said Peter Verbrugge, President of Sage Fruit Company.
