FRESNO, CA - If there’s one thing we can always expect in the ag sector, it’s evolution. Change may be one of our industry’s few constants, and companies are continuously seeking the next channel of growth to evolve alongside it. Wayne DeCou, Equipment Director for Volm Companies, recently took a moment to explore several points of industry evolution and how the packaging solutions provider is helping its partners take advantage.

“With so much innovation happening in fresh produce, it’s not easy keeping up with all the change. Every season seems to bring something new and different, including a range of equipment solutions,” Wayne explained to me. “Taking a bird's-eye view, however, allows for key themes to emerge. It’s this kind of insight that helps our industry strategically position itself for the future.”

One constantly evolving aspect is the rise of automation.

“As more facilities invest in equipment, the more productive their operations become. Automation is now the industry norm, and anyone not embracing it risks being left behind. The momentum is only expected to accelerate as manual labor becomes increasingly scarce and costly, and equipment solutions become more advanced,” Wayne notes.

“We’re also seeing a deeper integration of equipment solutions, which is good news for facilities of all sizes,” he continues. That’s because greater integration requires strong product development, thoughtful equipment features, and seamless execution of overall systems. Above all, it demands a more sophisticated approach. But sophistication does not need to be complicated. The overall goal here is not complexity for the end user, but a more harmonious space where all aspects are working together to increase output and speed, not to mention profit margins.”

Other key changes are coming about as larger retailers evolve their requirements along with automated warehousing.

“We’re seeing far more rigid formats—cases, trays, and RPCs—that allow for uniformity. For big retailers, these kinds of packages are easier to receive, store, retrieve, and ship, particularly when building mixed-load pallets and truckloads,” explained Wayne. “At Volm, we’re seeing this shift reflected in our equipment orders as a range of customers move to machinery that supports these needs.”

As Wayne illustrates, another shift driven by retailers is a rise in bag-to-bin solutions.

“The popularity of bins is one of the reasons why Volm continues to invest in our palletizing solutions,” he shared. “This includes our conventional palletizing options, as well as our bag-to-bin robot, which was recently updated to include a smaller footprint and other enhancements. In fact, most end-of-line solutions are undergoing a transformation. Palletizing, case packing, and grading continue to require a lot of manual labor, so there’s considerable energy in making them more automated. Expect to see big changes in those spaces going forward.”

As technology drives the industry into its next era of innovation, Volm will continue to evolve alongside its customers’ needs while collecting insights from the retail market to guide its latest strategies.

“The more we understand the retailer, the more wisely we can expand our partnerships, spend our R&D dollars, and proactively serve the market. We also believe industry partners must do more than offer a great product. Operator training, comprehensive technical manuals, and complementary annual preventative maintenance inspections are a few of the ways we support and empower our customers.”

Another valuable resource is Volm’s recently launched social media series, Quick Tips, in which its lead technician in Antigo, Wisconsin, shares pointers for maintaining equipment.

“These tools may not be trendy or as exciting as new equipment solutions, but they help to bring operators up to speed more quickly, improve facility safety, prevent unexpected repairs, reduce machine downtime, and increase operational productivity,” Wayne concludes. “The only catch is that you have to take advantage. But I can wholeheartedly say that we all collectively benefit every time you do.”

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