Our clients often express concern about the high costs associated with purchasing fruit and vegetable packing lines. It is a fact that such equipment is not cheap, especially when considering the latest high-end solutions that guarantee high accuracy and efficiency. Many potential clients are discouraged from investing in a blueberry packing line, focusing solely on the price of the machine. Such a simplified way of thinking does not provide a complete picture of the situation and can indeed miss the chance to develop the business and increase earnings.
When considering a line for packing and sorting fruits and vegetables, two points on the timeline must be taken into account — where we are today and where we could be in 3 or 5 years. Such an outlook changes the perspective of investing in a machine for blueberries completely.
Every investment involves deferred benefits. This is true for investing in one’s own skills (better job prospects), photovoltaics (lower electricity bills), or equipment such as a lawn mowing robot (less time spent on gardening). Today you spend money, hoping to achieve even more benefits in the future (higher revenues, time savings, lower fees, etc.). That’s why investing cannot be limited to the question: How much does it cost? The nature of investment requires finding answers to other questions: How much will I earn from this? When will the expenses pay off? What else will I gain from this investment? How will this blueberry machine increase the value of my company?
Importantly, such questions demand precise, concrete answers, preferably expressed in numbers or at least consulted with an expert or another entrepreneur who has already implemented similar projects. Unclear or wrong answers may lead to failed projects, resulting in long-term losses.
Accounting, finance, and economics theory provide us with a range of tools to estimate the profitability of investments. Many of them require substantial knowledge, formulas, or spreadsheets. This is a task for professionals. While not every fruit and vegetable grower needs to be a financier, everyone should know what ROI is and how to calculate it.
“Every time we invest in a new machine, we expect the money spent to pay off. However, I’m not referring to the colloquial phrase meaning hope or wishful thinking. We should calculate our expectations, that is, express them in numbers, to minimise the risk of investment. Depending on the chosen indicator, we can see how much we will “earn” on a given investment or how long it will take for the invested money to pay off. Presenting expectations in numbers helps make better decisions and motivates us to enter into a specific investment” – comments Jacek Ryba, CFO of Milbor.
ROI (Return on Investment) is one of the basic indicators of investment profitability in a given device, rental property, training, advertising campaign, etc. In our case, ROI will determine the profitability of implementing machines for packing and sorting blueberries. It is calculated using a simple formula:
ROI = (investment profit – investment cost / investment cost) * 100%
ROI is expressed in percentage. The higher the ROI, the more profitable the investment. A negative result, on the other hand, means a loss for the entrepreneur.
Despite some limitations, ROI is a popular profitability indicator for investments and a good starting point for deeper analysis. Why do you need to calculate the return on investment in blueberry packing line? Calculating ROI allows for a quick analysis of how purchasing a particular blueberry machine will impact the operation and profits of the company. By using ROI, we can also compare the profitability of machines with different efficiencies and examine how automation compares to manual fruit packing and sorting.
Another popular way to estimate the profitability of a particular venture is to calculate how long it will take for the profits generated by the machine to cover its purchase cost. In colloquial terms, it is often said that a particular piece of equipment will pay for itself in X years. In this text, we avoid this term, as it introduces some semantic confusion with amortization in accounting and financial terms.
Let’s use an example. Investing in a 12-head weigher will reduce the packaging workforce by 20 positions and increase production efficiency by 100%. As a result, the company’s profit will double, and the money saved by not paying 20 employees will remain in the owner’s wallet. Both categories can be easily expressed in cash and treated as benefits of the investment. Calculating the return time on investment in a blueberry packing line or other fruit requires identifying when the financial benefits generated after implementing the investment will equal the entire cost incurred for the improvement. The shorter the return time on investment, the better. This way, we can also calculate the profitability of a blueberry packing line.
Milbor’s years of experience and over 200 completed automation projects allow us to state that the average return time on investment in fruit or vegetable sorting and packing equipment usually occurs within 2 or 3 seasons.
An exact profitability calculation is practically impossible because such an analysis should take into account factors that we do not yet know (future fruit prices, inflation rate, energy costs, minimum wage level, etc.). However, the decision to invest in a blueberry packing line should be based on data and tailored to the needs of your company. A simplified estimation of investment profits, for example using the ROI and return time indicators described above, can be the basis for answering whether it is worth investing in blueberry machines.
We invite you to familiarise yourself with our prepared calculation examples, which show how to approach calculating the profitability of investing in automation. Calculations will be sent to the addresses of all interested readers after completing the form attached above in the text. We are convinced that this will be a valuable material for people considering investing in automation, helping them estimate the profitability of a blueberry packing line.
On the other hand, if you already know that automating the sorting and packing of blueberries or other fruits and vegetables will be beneficial for you and you are looking for a reliable business partner who will help you through all stages of the investment, please fill out the form below. In response, a Milbor advisor will soon contact you to introduce our holistic approach to automation in the fruit and vegetable sector.
The unit is designed to remove dirt from fruit. The machine effectively removes leaves, sticks, dried flowers and undersized fruits. It is an extremely useful and helpful machine for sorting mechanically harvested fruit.
A unit for sorting blueberries by size. It uses technologies that enable accurate and gentle sorting. Removes undersized fruit and debris with specially adjustable slots between belts.
The belt calibrator is a very flexible grading machinery for blueberries. Thanks to its modular design, the grading machinery easily adapts to both large and small packaging lines. A jumbo calibrator is the best solution for removing wrong-sized and undersized fruit.
Made of materials that are gentle to the fruit and do not rub off the bloom;
Belt width adjustable in the range of 8-12 mm;
A very gentle system with a low drop height on the reject belt conveyor;
A patented size adjustment system to easily adjust the calibrator to customer requirements;
A direct, stepless drive for smooth operation;
The simple design allows for easy disassembly and assembly, as well as cleaning of the machine;
The machine’s legs are equipped with wheels to ensure full mobility;
Made of stainless steel.
You will get efficient and thoughtful service from Jindu.
3It is the part of a sorting and packing line where the workers visually inspect the sorted fruit.
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This packing equipment is suitable for packing different fresh products, ranging from blueberries, cranberries, black currants, bilberries, and chokeberries, to cherry tomatoes. It works well with various types of frozen fruit, too.
Other versions of G2 Evolution
4-SCALE 6-SCALE 10-SCALE 16-SCALE
In search of dependable packing machinery but undecided on the optimal choice for your enterprise? Look no further! Our team at Milbor, with vast, international expertise in the blueberry field, is ready to assist you! Our experts can seamlessly incorporate this 12-scale blueberry packing machine into your existing production setup. Complete the form provided below to delve deeper into how this equipment can elevate the efficiency of your blueberry packing operations.
5We manufacture packaging transport conveyors ourselves, allowing us to create a customised conveyor tailored to the specific needs of a packing facility. The lidding conveyors come in various sizes and shapes, facilitating line design and enabling optimal use of available space while integrating seamlessly with the rest of the infrastructure. Our offer includes multi-level conveyors, electrically powered conveyors, and passive models that use gravity to move packaging.
One of Milbor PMC’s key strengths is integrating existing lines with new machines and optimizing the packing process. If you’re looking for improvements for your packing facility, fill out the form below and talk to the automation expert!
6This tray sealing equipment is suitable for packaging various products:
The Revolution tray sealer is a reliable device that will significantly streamline the packaging process in your company. Like any other sealing machines by Packaging Automation Ltd, it shows top-end technology paired with ergonomics and durability. Its high efficiency and flexibility save time and reduce operational production costs. If you want to learn more about choosing the optimal tray sealing machine, read this article or contact our advisor directly for a free consultation. If you have questions about the Revolution, fill out the form below.
7The labeller is available in several variants that differ from each other in the place of sticking the marking.
TBF – this machine can mark the packaging up and down (bottom and top)
BF – this model marks the packaging at the bottom
TF – this labelled sticks the label at the top of the box
TBF+S – this extended variant can put the label on the top, bottom and side of the box.
These aforementioned models show different dimensions.
Optionally, the labeller can be additionally equipped with a printer (e.g. Ink-Jet) to adjust printing data on a label.
You don’t have to know the answer to this question. Rely on the knowledge and experience of Milbor PMC experts and see what model of labelling machines will be most suitable to your current needs and development plans. Fill out the form below and make an appointment for a free conversation about regarding comprehensive labelling system. During the consultation, our specialist will provide you with the details of the device, but also explain, how we can integrate the new labeller with your packing line.
8The automatic checkweigher equipped with a metal detector is an advanced device that not only weighs precisely but also ensures the highest level of safety by effectively detecting foreign objects in packaging. This system is an excellent solution for production lines where quality and compliance with standards are a priority. Its multi-frequency detection technology guarantees high detection accuracy of potential contaminants, minimizing the risk of their occurrence in finished products.
Thanks to the automatic learning function, the device adapts to product specifications quickly and intuitively, eliminating the need for specialized knowledge from operators. Additionally, the system allows easy switching between product batches through the storage of multiple product settings, which optimizes production processes and reduces downtime.
Investing in an automatic checkweigher with a metal detector is a decision that will help your company meet growing market demands and raise production standards. If you have questions about this device or want to learn how it can improve your production efficiency and achieve maximum benefits from automating your production line, fill out the contact form. Our specialist will contact you to recommend the best solution. The consultation is free and non-binding.
9The control machine is an advanced line control system based on a Siemens PLC. It makes it possible to manage the entire line from a single location using an operator panel (HMI) that has access to the diagnostics and status of each line component and continuously displays the production progress. The control machine displays the causes of stops, faults and errors, and is responsible for controlling, navigating, and monitoring the machine workflow, thus saving the operators’ time.
For more information, please visit 12 scale packing machine for blueberries.