Hall Hunter recently purchased a new Elifab Berry class 12 lane sorter along with two automatic punnet fillers from Elifab partner Mat Exakta. A new blueberry sorting and packing line will be installed soon and is expected to be fully operational by the end of May 2024.
Britain's largest blueberry producer
Hall Hunter is the UK's largest blueberry producer, supplying approximately 2,200 tonnes of blueberries to the market each year. The majority of blueberries sold in season in the UK come from Whole Hunter, reflecting the important role of Whole Hunter in the local market. They supply products to major retailers in the UK.
From left to right: Tihomir Zhelev (Packhouse Manager Hall Hunter), (Alana Deacon – Head of Operations Hall Hunter), and Ed Westerweele (Elifab Solutions Sales Manager)
Main goals and challenges
Hall Hunter faced several challenges related to packaging and grading, with labor being a major concern. “Workforce comes first. We need to minimize our workforce and double our production capacity,” says Alana Deacon, director of operations. She stressed that the company also had to deal with her 10% increase in labor costs and there was an urgent need to streamline processes. “We wanted something new, advanced, and user-friendly,” says Alana. Ensuring high throughput without compromising quality was a top priority.
Hall Hunter aims to set the industry standard. “Our goal is to grow more blueberries and become a leader in the industry,” Alana says. By leveraging advanced technology, we aim to improve productivity while anticipating market demands. “We are adapting our field to stay ahead of the curve,” Alana explains. “We need technology and machinery that can sustain and enhance our operations.”
Motivation for choosing Elifab-Ellips and Matexakta:
The decision to go with Elifab-Ellips grading machines and Mat Exakta punnet fillers was driven by several important factors. Chief among them was the recognition of the growing importance of AI and advanced technologies. “The world of AI computer technology is here, and we either embrace it and take advantage of it, or we are left behind,” Arana emphasizes. For hole hunters, saving labor, maintaining fruit quality, and increasing production capacity were essential considerations. Punnet Filler's multi-format automatic unnesting feature, combined with accurate grading capabilities, perfectly matches your requirements. In addition, competitive pricing and support from his sales manager, Ed Westerweele, played a major role in the decision-making process.
Alana Deacon reflected on the challenges they faced and emphasized the importance of a grading system designed specifically for blueberries. “We like that it is specifically designed for blueberries. We especially like that it has the lowest number of drops and the lowest transfer height. This has a positive effect on tenderness, flowering, etc.” she explains. “I also liked the flexibility of Elifab-Ellips Grading's machine and how precisely it could be adjusted. She is very user friendly,” Alana explains.
expectations
Hall Hunter's expectations are focused on maximizing efficiency, reducing labor costs, and improving output quality. They expect a significant reduction in labor requirements with the possibility of doubling production while maintaining accurate grading and minimizing freebies at the punnet. “We did the math: The whole process, the whole packaging line, would go from 26 people per shift to 12 people per shift,” Alana says. “That means a lot of labor savings, for sure. It also doubles the throughput. Now we can grade more flexibly and accurately, grade to spec, and We can maximize yield,” Alana added.
Hole Hunter's journey illustrates the transformative impact of introducing cutting-edge technology in agriculture. By investing in Elifab-Ellips technology and Mat Exakta punnet fillers, the company is poised to revolutionize its operations, streamline processes and meet its growth goals. Hall Hunter is focused on innovation and quality and is well placed to lead the UK blueberry industry into the future. “We are very proud of this partnership with Whole Hunter and look forward to working closely with them to reduce costs and improve quality for consumers.” said Ed Westerweele of Elifab.
For more information:
Ed Westerweel
Elifab Solutions
Phone number: +34622943980
ed@elifab.com
www.elifab.com
