Uptake of the company’s Easy-Ripe ethylene generator is growing across international markets
Catalytic Generators continues to make inroads in the European market and beyond. The company is about to conclude another year supplying Fruchtimport vanWylick, one of Germany’s biggest banana importers with a capacity of more than 230,000 boxes per week.
According to Greg Akins, CEO of Catalytic Generators, this demonstrates that the technology is not only suitable for small projects but can also be incorporated into large-scale operations alongside other ripening systems.
“Ethylene application should not be complicated,” he said. “The modular nature of our generators means that placing them in ripening rooms presents fewer technical challenges, as adding them is straightforward and much easier than using centralised systems.”
Simon Gossier, vanWylick’s head of CSR, said incorporating Easy-Ripe generators into the company’s ripening facilities has made them more flexible and reduced costs.
“If you start small, with just a few rooms, scaling up is straightforward – you can simply add more rooms and place additional units there,” he said. “Expanding a centralised system, by contrast, is always more complicated and expensive because of the extra tubing and wiring.”
Managing fruit ripening has always been one of the most delicate stages in the fresh produce supply chain. Ethylene, a natural plant hormone, plays a central role in this process – but how it is delivered and controlled during the ripening process can make all the difference.
“Unlike traditional centralised gas supply systems, Catalytic Generators’ Easy-Ripe ethylene generator offers a lightweight, portable solution delivering safe and consistent results without the complexity of piping or high installation costs,” Akins said.
“This makes them suitable for all types of businesses – from small farms with limited ripening chambers, to importers, distributors, and even large supermarket chains.”
Walmart currently uses over 800 generators across its distribution centres in North America and Mexico, while retailers like Coles and Woolworths in Australia have also adopted the technology across multiple facilities.
