With the scarcity and high cost of labor, new grape production and harvesting techniques have become part of the daily lives of producers, who have been opting for the mechanization of processes to increase the efficiency and productivity of the wine industry.

A good example of this change is the use of rotomolded plastic containers combined with handling solutions for collection, storage and transport in wine production in Serra Gaúcha.

Understand the benefits of mechanized harvesting

At the beginning of larger-scale production, products were harvested manually, with technological limitations and a large number of people working in the field. With the evolution of machines, manual-mechanical harvesting emerged and, later, fully mechanized harvesting.

Mechanization helps to compensate for the lack of labor in Rio Grande do Suil, where it has been increasingly difficult to find workers to help harvest the grapes.

The use of machines in harvesting is surprising mainly due to its speed and practicality. An area that would take more than an hour to harvest can now be harvested in between 10 and 15 minutes.

But the mechanization of grape production still presents challenges. In Serra Gaúcha, there are still few farmers who use machines to harvest part of the production.

Get to know the Rotomolded Plastic Container

rotomolded plastic containers are the most suitable for use in conjunction with fork extenders, rotating devices and other machines used in collecting, storing and transporting grapes.

Produced with rotomolded plastic, the containers speed up harvesting and promote hygiene conditions, as they are easy to wash and have antimicrobial protection and prevent the proliferation of fungi and bacteria.

Ensure hygiene and reduce production costs

Containers, also called bins, are already used on a large scale in the food industry, not only in the wine industry, but also in the harvesting of other fruits and in areas such as herb plants, grain and flour industries and slaughterhouses.

The bins are non-toxic, resistant to chemical agents and resistant to temperatures from -35º to 60º C. Made for use on the ground, they can be easily moved with a pallet or forklift.

Furthermore, they have a UV14 additive and can count on antimicrobial protection, which prevents the proliferation of fungi and bacteria and allows direct contact with food.

These large plastic containers are easily removed from the field by a tractor with a fork attached, reducing manual labor and saving 30% on harvesting.

Another important factor is that the containers follow the specifications of Anvisa’s sanitary standards (ABNT 1642) and good manufacturing practices (GMP), fundamental in the food industry.

Discover the differences between Super Roto plastic pallets

In addition to bin containers, rotomolded plastic pallets Super Roto Tecnotri are ideal for grape growing and the most suitable for the production of drinks and food.

Super Roto plastic pallets receive antimicrobial protection and UV14 additives, which prevent the proliferation of fungi and bacteria. Furthermore, they allow direct contact with the fruits, which is essential in the food industry.

Lightweight and easy to transport, rotomolded plastic pallets have flaps that help transport and store food, preventing boxes from sliding on the pallets. The hollow faces allow for the drainage and flow of liquids that may accumulate during the storage of food products.

Another advantage of the plastic pallet is its load capacity, as it is capable of supporting large weights. Extremely robust, these products allow boxes to be stacked. Furthermore, as they are monoblocks, they do not have seams, nails or welds, which helps to avoid accidents and bring greater safety to operations.

Increase agility in moving containers

Handling and transporting grapes requires special and specific handling solutions, due to the fragility of these products and the space where they are handled. Tools such as fork extenders, rotating devices and support platforms have been used with great success in Serra Gaúcha to overcome these problems.

The rotating devices with bin retainers are attached to forklifts to speed up the unloading of grapes from the plastic containers. With this equipment, it is possible to load and unload bin containers in a fully mechanized manner. This way, you can speed up the unloading process, avoiding wastage of raw materials.

Telescopic forks are mechanisms attached to forklifts to unload from both sides of the vehicle. To carry out the operation, simply open one of the sides of the body. The mechanism is also ideal for storing products in double-depth pallet structures.

Thanks to these operational advantages, the use of this equipment resulted in a time saving of around 30% compared to the old process, when forks were used.

Some types of cargo require special and specific handling solutions, due to the fragility of the products or the space where they are handled. Tools such as fork extenders, rotating devices and support platforms provide the necessary solutions, in addition to providing better ergonomics and safety for operators.

See the advantages of telescopic forks

The telescopic forks avoid many forklift maneuvers during shipping, reducing the transit time of loads and allowing the truck to be loaded from just one side.

Another advantage of telescopic forks is that they add little weight to the forklift, which is why they can be attached to smaller capacity counterbalanced and retractable machines. The mechanism is also ideal for storing products in double-depth pallet structures.

As you can see, the new technologies used in grape harvesting, such as harvesting machines, rotating devices and rotomolded plastic containers, contribute to making the processes more efficient, faster and more economical.

Speak to a consultant:

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