The family business of Mark and Jos originated in dairy farming in Slootdorp. Six years ago, an arable farming branch was added in Anna Paulowna. The crops mainly consist of seed potatoes and sugar beets. Both branches operate together within one cropping plan. Mark is responsible for the dairy herd. Jos manages the arable farming and also sorts produce for a nearby arable farmer.

The challenge

Before investing in optical sorting technology, the sorting process was long and labor-intensive, with different people working on the sorting line. Hiring external workers is costly, and skilled workers are not always available. As a result, quality varied and sorting often continued throughout the entire winter. Other work was postponed or not carried out at the right time. “We want to limit the use of external labor as much as possible while still delivering consistent quality,” says Jos de Nijs.

The choice of Flikweert Vision

The turning point came when fellow arable farmer Jaap Reselman was willing to co-invest in an optical quality sorter. This made it possible to reduce dependence on external labor, increase capacity, and stabilize quality. After discussions with several suppliers, Flikweert Vision was the only party to present a concrete plan that fit within the existing line, supported by strong references.

Implementation and collaboration

The line was first modified and prepared based on technical drawings. This allowed the machine to be installed in one step and the investments to be spread over time. The operation proved to be simple and the machine reliable, even in a dusty environment. The cooperation with Flikweert Vision was experienced as very positive. “The service department is easy to reach and helpful with questions or adjustments,” confirm Jos and Jaap. The QualityGrader is easy to operate and runs reliably in our daily operations.

Results

Since the installation, there is more calm and structure within the business. The sorting pace has increased and the quality has clearly improved. Thanks to the more consistent and higher capacity, more work can be done during the winter with fewer people. Employees have responded positively. In total, more hectares can be sorted in a shorter period, creating room to work the land or carry out maintenance. If the investment fits the business, this is a step that directly contributes to continuity and quality. By cooperating smartly with fellow farming businesses, the threshold for investing becomes lower and this technology becomes attractive more quickly.

Looking ahead

The next ambition is the optical selection of seed potatoes. This is the second major labor bottleneck for seed potato growers. With further automation, Jos aims to achieve even greater stability and efficiency in their business operations.