In the Italian region of Val Venosta, the introduction of smart technologies has apparently transformed supply chains
Italian company Vip says the recent deployment of AI and automation is transforming the way apples are grown and handled in its home region of Val Venosta, and therefore helping it to meet demand for greater quality and traceability.
Through a range of technological upgrades, the group has engineered a major operational shift that epitomises the way in which traditional fruit producers are investing heavily in high-tech solutions to stay competitive, improve efficiency, and maintain quality in a more demanding global market.
These advances include: machine learning-based selection systems that detect defects more accurately; modern weighing systems that measure pack sizes precisely; robotic lines for layered packaging; driverless logistical units in packhouses; vertical warehousing to maximise the use of space; and AI-driven storage that monitors the fruit and makes use of dynamic controlled atmosphere systems.
Across the board, it adds, the intention has been to reduce margins of error at every stage of the production process, and thereby improve the overall quality of its fruit.
With more delicate varieties such as Pinova, for example, Vip has chosen to use hot-water showers as a natural and effective way to combat fungal diseases in storage like Gloeosporium. This ensures healthy, high-quality fruit even months after harvesting.
In addition, next-generation sensors and advanced software constantly and accurately monitor those storage conditions.
And while each new technology can present a new challenge, the need to keep improving is very much part of the process.
“Every new technology brings with it not only opportunities, but also new challenges and it’s essential to involve people in this process,” says Volker Astfäller, Vip’s head of production management.
He feels it would be too simple to say that automation replaces manual tasks. Instead, he says, it transforms the nature of the work itself and helps to create more sustainable processes with people at their heart.
“Technology is precisely what helps improve processes, meet the needs of clients and consumers, and ensure business results in a sustainable way,” he comments.
