Starr Ranch Growers was founded in 1934 in the heart of Washington's apple region. Since then, it has become a major apple, pear, cherry, and stone fruit grower, packer, and exporter. When choosing a new sorting line, this American fruit company did not take any chances. "We spent five years preparing for this and did thorough research to find the right partner," says CEO Brett Reasor.
“We want to give our clients consistent quality, day in and day out. Therefore, we ended up with the Ellips/Elisam's sorting technology. It has proven color, defect, and internal sorting capabilities. Its internal quality inspection is unique, and the external quality control is of the highest level. This system is flexible and can combine dynamic sorting requirements when it comes to product issues, the market situation, and customer requirements," says Brett.
"We wanted the most innovative solution in the world. This system lets us exceed customer expectations while minimizing waste," agrees plant manager Joe Schwilke.
"When selecting a sorting technology, we focused on internal quality sorting capability. We tested systems from multiple suppliers using various varieties, which each presented different challenges. We found that, compared to other suppliers, Ellips' capability regarding internal quality sorting is unique."
"Ellips/Elisam's product handling and the system's durability and reliability are added bonuses. We've been running this line for ten months now, and this cup sorter hasn't, for example, had a single broken cup. Thanks to its lower depreciation, batch settings flexibility, and high capacity, we should realize a strong Return On Investment. In fact, we've managed to double our capacity. This technology is proving its value every day and is going to generate structural profits within a few years," Joe concludes.
For more information:
Dan Davis
Starr Ranch Growers
1 Oneonta Dr
Wenatchee, WA 98801, USA
Tel: +1 (509) 961 1919
Email: dand@starranch.com
Website: www.starranch.com
Ellips
300 Esp
5633 AE, Eindhoven, NL
Tel: +31 (0) 402 456 540
Email: info@ellips.com
Website: www.ellips.com