LUCY CRAYMER AND NZPA A showpiece apple grading system is part of $5.5 million packhouse rising from the ashes of the old Longview packhouse. The packhouse burnt to the ground on March 12 after an electrical fault started a fire in a wall - the rebuilt packing sheds are now being installedwith technology to enable the Caccioppolis to automate the grading of apples for blemishes. The system will use video cameras and computer software to detect the colour, weight, blemishes, size and shape of the apples. The fruit will be rotated as it passes a video camera, which takes multiple images as the weight of each item is recorded and analysed to an accuracy of 1g, and will be diverted to the appropriate sorting stream. Michael Caccioppoli said he was looking forward to the system, designed by Onehunga-based Compac Sorting Equipment. "We have another means to remain competitive through this tough time in the market," he said. The packhouse will have the latest technology and robotics making it "the most automated packhouse in New Zealand", he said. He added that the new packhouse was expected to be open for business by November. He expects it would employ about 200 people at the height of the packing season from late February to June. Compac sales manager Phil Prior said despite a global downturn in the apple industry, his company had found continued interest in its blemish grading for apples because packers wanted to cut costs. Some of the systems being sold in both North America and New Zealand record each fruit's brix (sugar) levels and the dry matter content, which enables crops to be graded on taste as well as appearance.
