Precise packing and weighing of products directly in the field is now possible

Every step counts, especially when it comes to delicate fresh produce like berries, grapes, mushrooms, and other fruits and vegetables. The faster the produce is packed, weighed accurately, and transferred to the cold chain after harvesting, the better its quality, freshness, and value will be preserved.

The company explains, "With the IWS 1500, TopControl brings an intelligent, mobile system directly to the field or greenhouse where produce is grown. "The robust field scale is specifically designed for demanding harvesting environments. Delicate produce can be packed and weighed directly during harvesting, eliminating the need to transport it to the packhouse and process it again. This avoids unnecessary handling, better protects product quality, and makes the entire process much more efficient."

The major advantage is that harvesting, packing, and weighing all take place in a single step. Field or greenhouse operators fill trays, baskets, or crates directly to the target weight and can immediately see on the intuitive display whether the pack is correct. This reduces overfilling, rework, and product loss while increasing accuracy and cost-effectiveness.

"Sequential weighing is another highlight of the IWS 1500," TopControl continues. "The trays are weighed progressively while inside the carton in the field. The empty trays are in the crate and are filled one by one with produce. The IWS 1500 records each tray and constantly displays the accumulated weight and the remaining weight needed to reach the target weight. Each small package is thus precisely filled to the target weight directly in the tray, eliminating the need for transfer, additional weighing, and unnecessary handling of delicate products."

The IWS 1500 has many advantages. It facilitates harvesting, packaging, and weighing in a single step directly in the field. It is designed for use in fields and greenhouses. Thanks to its intuitive operation, it offers up to 90% less giveaway and up to 40% higher performance. It lowers labor costs by up to 30%. It provides a rapid ROI, with payback within 3–12 months. Its intuitive display clearly indicates underweight, target weight, and overweight. It has a battery-powered option with up to 30 hours of battery life when using a power bank. It has a Wi-Fi connection that connects directly to the software from the harvesting environment.

The IWS 1500 is designed for trays and crates up to 400 x 600 mm. It weighs approximately 5 kg (including the power bank) and remains easy to carry. Its IP64 protection rating allows it to be used in demanding environments, and its Wi-Fi connection and RFID function enable modern digital process management.

When used with FoodProcess, it records all relevant data, including incoming batches, waste quantities, weighing results, working times, and productivity. Managers thus gain a transparent overview of the entire harvesting and packaging process, providing a basis for better planning, targeted optimization, and greater control directly at the source.

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