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    “Besides the labor savings, it mainly brings peace of mind to your business”

    Article on AGF.nl – interview with our customer Luimes.

Luimes VOF Invests in an Palletizer and Bag Placer from Verbruggen Palletizing Sollutions

Tholen, Netherlands – Brothers Gerwin and Rudi Luimes from Marknesse farm approximately 175 hectares in the Noordoostpolder, growing seed potatoes, table potatoes, onions, chicory, carrots, and wheat. Although agricultural commodity prices are currently at a low level, Gerwin remains pragmatic.

“Fortunately, we’ve also seen very different prices in recent years. Farming comes with ups and downs. We hope next year will be better.”

Innovation and technology have always been part of the mindset at Luimes VOF.

“It’s not that we necessarily want to be the first to adopt every new development, but we always look into the possibilities. We investigate what new technologies can bring us and whether they make financial sense,” says Gerwin.

The arable farming business previously invested in a Verbruggen palletizer, and this season added a Thomech bag placer, the V-Load 500, a product line that has been part of Verbruggen since January 1.

The palletizer has been operating since 2017.

“The machine has performed exceptionally well. We haven’t experienced any major issues over the years, and whenever something did come up, it was resolved quickly,” says Gerwin.

When it came to selecting a bag placer, the farm once again chose Verbruggen.

“We looked at several brands, but the operating method and, above all, the simplicity of this machine really appealed to us. It fits our business perfectly.”

Labor Savings and Operational Peace of Mind

Luimes VOF also bags seed potatoes for third parties and processes approximately 3,500 metric tons of potatoes during the winter season.

“We have one full-time employee, and my father still helps out almost every day, but he’s getting older as well. That was one of the reasons we started looking at automation. After all, you still need someone to place the bags manually,” Gerwin explains.

The new line has exceeded expectations.

“Not only because of the labor savings, but also because of the peace of mind it provides. When you hire someone to work on the bagging line, you need to keep that person occupied. A machine doesn’t mind waiting when the line stops. That makes planning much easier. On top of that, finding temporary labor when you’re busy isn’t always easy. The machine is always available.”

More Automation Across the Operation

Over the past few years, the company has continued to expand its equipment fleet, including an electronic sorting machine and an optical sorting cart.

“When I look at the total amount of labor we’re saving, it’s really a relief. In the past, we had two people in the sorting room, one or two on forklifts, and another employee placing bags. Now we have one person performing quality checks at a much higher capacity, and one forklift operator who can essentially handle everything. That creates a lot of peace and flexibility. It also gives you time to focus on other important tasks.”

Gerwin is also quick to acknowledge the contribution of sorting manager Lenn Meeuwse, who is responsible for the entire sorting operation.

A Partnership Worth Recommending

Gerwin would also recommend working with Verbruggen to other sorting and packing operations.

“One advantage for us is that they’re only six kilometers away. I hardly ever need to visit them, but whenever necessary, they’re here quickly or they solve the issue over the phone.”

Although Luimes purchased its Verbruggen machines independently, the company is part of SB Agro, a cooperative partnership involving four fellow arable farms in the Noordoostpolder. Through this collaboration, tractors, cultivation equipment, and labor are shared.

“This pooling of resources also makes it more attractive to try out new technologies and innovations.”

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