CC Powell has been active in North-East Scotland since 2010, a region known for the cultivation of seed potatoes, carrots, and turnips. Founder Chris Powell was introduced to potato technology early on through his father. He further developed this knowledge during his agricultural studies. With the sale, service, and support of root crop machinery, CC Powell assists growers in their daily operations. In a region where suitable agricultural land is becoming scarce and businesses must operate ever more efficiently, the demand for machinery that meets the specific needs of the grower is growing.

From customer query to solution

The collaboration with Flikweert Vision arose from a clear market demand. Growers are looking for ways to reduce their reliance on manual labour in the packing house, as staff are scarce. During their search for suitable optical sorting technology, CC Powell discovered Flikweert Vision. According to Chris Powell, their strength lies in specialisation. Flikweert Vision focuses entirely on potatoes and onions. This focus results in machines that sort accurately and align with the practical needs of growers and processors.

Practical experience

A good example of this is the installation of a QualityGrader at Tom Cargill’s site in Laurencekirk. Following a visit to the Flikweert Vision site, he decided to invest in the machine for sorting seed potatoes. During the first season, the QualityGrader immediately proved its worth. The machine significantly reduced the labour required whilst simultaneously improving sorting accuracy compared to manual quality control.

Looking ahead

According to Chris Powell, the sector faces a clear challenge. Labour is becoming scarcer, while quality requirements continue to increase. Automation is therefore playing an ever-increasing role in the sorting process. Together with Flikweert Vision, CC Powell is developing solutions that help growers work more efficiently and become less reliant on manual labour.