On Tuesday 29 September , the Tree & Shrub Growers held an online group meeting to discuss how using applied science can improve efficiency in nursery production .
by Matt RossThe Edgar Guest verbalizer was Merijn Kuiper , Automation and Labour Saving Division Manager at Powerplants Australia . The academic term as ever was expertly host by Heath McKenzie of Australian Growing Solutions .
Merijn grew up in Holland and indeed gardening . His dad was a tomato plant raiser and Merijn spent many a daytime watching him at study in the greenhouse . He has also worked in the gardening industry in Brazil and Canada , before arriving on these shore .
Merijn take us on a journeying through the various stages of mechanising manufacture ; from automation to aggregative output to automation and finally machine learning . He believes that no matter what the business and its specialty , for almost every task in gardening there is a mechanised root .
The labour needed to create a product ( plant ) represents a significant percentage of the overall cost . Australia has among the highest lying-in cost globally , contract the amount of travail required to create a product results in increased gain .
The first level of introduce machinery to drive output efficiency is mechanisation ; the switch of a human task with a automobile . In our industry , some example include potting machines , pruning machine , tractor , or water system . The outcomes are contiguous and touchable , from the instalment of the very first auto there are significant efficiency gain , labour savings and the eubstance delivered by machinery can result in a good quality ware , imply agriculturalist can charge more for a plant and less will conk .
The second level of mechanization is mass product ; the fabrication of heavy quantities of standardised products often using gathering lineage or automation technical school . It facilitates the effective product of a large numeral of similar products . A method first employed by Henry Ford and increasingly used in horticulture . Merijn points out that a conveyor organisation is not about speed , it ’s about body and caliber .
Merijn partake in a telecasting showcase study of a greenhouse in Brazil to foreground the efficiency of a conveyer system . Prior to the introduction of mechanised conveyors , the task of stacking pot call for 6 - 9 employees , after the conveyors it required just two , processing 130 % more plants in the same prison term frame , position a less physical strain on the employee and finally increasing profit .
The third level is automation ; the technology by which a process is performed with minimal human assistance . Automation or automatic control is the use of various command systems for operating equipment .
There are a number of likely prompt benefits of infix automation :
Merijn hint that mechanization accommodate the Dutch , Belgian , and German approached to horticulture .
“ In Holland growers are automating everything . They are uncoerced to pass half a million dollars to save half a cent . They are extremely monetary value - labour . Their industry is well suited to automation , they utilise one pot size of it and often work with single diversity . In Australia , it ’s more hard because of the different pot sizes and the kitchen range of stock each agriculturalist produces . ”
Automation in the Australian gardening manufacture is increase though , indeed all manufacture globally are increasingly embracing mechanisation , and there is a risk that not doing the same could see nursery ’s battle to vie .
The last level of mechanisation is machine learning ; the study of computer algorithmic program that improve automatically through experience . A subset of unreal intelligence that is all around us , from Siri to email spam . Although uncommon it is employ in horticulture ; whether it ’s a camera that can place orchids , de - leafing robots , picking automaton , or vision systems to determine whether the yield is ready to blame .
Merijn is quick to channelise out that efficiency is not only about installing machinery . It can come from lean manufacturing , process , and routine , create ergonomic work posture , good teamwork , and eliminating insistent movements by employees having what they demand where they are .
He believes that if a nursery is looking to get going introducing machinery for the first time , to start with mechanisation ( potting machines , pruning machines , tractor , or water systems ) before moving on to aggregative output , mechanisation , or machine learning .
Merijn suggests that any horticulture businesses looking to bring in some form of mechanisation should first shoot the breeze match , trade show , oversea nursery and learn from them ; sharing challenges and answer . Obviously inviting specialists like Powerplants or Transplant Systems to visit your business and provide expert insight . He also suggests searching for video content on YouTube so you may see the machinery in use of goods and services .
Merijn feel that achieving a ratio of 80 % mechanized production and 20 % manual yield is a good guide for optimum productiveness for Victorian horticultural businesses .
The sitting conclude with NGIV ’s Policy & Technical Manager , David Reid , partake in a funding opportunity that is aid square-toed gardening businesses to introduce mechanisation . The Business Adaptation Grant is design to help eligible businesses to meet the costs of adapting workplaces to comply with wellness , rubber , and societal distancing requirement or conform to required job changes levy as a result of the coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) pandemic .
Under the programme , case-by-case Ulysses S. Grant between $ 10,000 and $ 300,000 will put up eligible clientele underwrite up to 50 percent of the cost of necessary adaptations to their work .
Grants can also be used to purchase machinery or appliances take to adapt businesses for maintain operations during the pandemic . Contact[email protected]to talk over your own possible eligibility .
We ’d wish to give thanks Merijn for the story of enthusiasm and knowledge he brought to the discourse . It was rattling to make for together industry number from across Australia to share and teach from one another . Proving that meaningful collaboration can continue despite the logistical challenges .
The Tree and Shrub Growers of Victoria is the large sectional interest group group of the Nursery & Garden Industry Victoria ( NGIV ) . The grouping consists of member of the NGIV involved with glasshouse plant life product and allied trade and provides fantastic networking opportunities across all field of manufacture .
link NGIV to find out more and find out how to become a member of the Tree and Shrub Growers of Victoria .
For more entropy : Powerplants03 8795 7750[email protected]www.powerplants.com.au
