UNITEC 's role in increasing the consumption of fruit

As usually during the course of Fruit Logistica, Angelo Benedetti (picture 1), president of UNITEC, convened a press conference during which he explained the objectives that drive his business and answered to questions from participants. The results obtained by its customers is the main concern behind technical developments made by UNITEC for  about 45 types of fruits and vegetables for which the company offers solutions. The way to increase consumption of fruit is to offer always a good quality product Company’s teams should help to improve business and its international aspects. To increase the consumption of fruit, produce must be of good quality, both external and internal. It's about creating strengths for the grower through the product itself, helping to eliminate the well known – and still existing - practice consisting of exposing the good fruit in the top layer of the display, covering lower quality produce. Angelo Benedetti argues that technology allows to create consistent quality standards. This need to create quality is addressed by the quality selecting systems of UNITEC (Ultravision and QS online). Each system displays different, specialized developments for different products. More technology, more market share Mr. Benedetti commented that UNITEC has rewarding experiences with cherry in Chile, where the company has been present for seven years and its equipment has been acquired by 90% of the largest producers. Selecting the internal quality and avoiding sending low / poor quality produce has enabled these Chilean growers to consolidate their presence in the markets. In the same period of time, seven years, the Chilean cherry production has tripled (the 2nd picture shows UNICAL_200 working with cherry). Worker´s health Another aspect that guides the development of UNITEC equipment is the problem posed by repetitive movements. Teams of technician work to reduce those repetitive movements as far as it is possible, to avoid the occurrence of physical problems they cause to the workers. The “cliché” that the best quality is achieved manually has been shown to be untrue in the selection process of fruit and vegetables. Security Safety in operations, another aspect  of worker’s welfare, is also part of the priority objectives when designing solutions. Palletizing systems offered by UNITEC are designed to move products safely. Results Different markets reward the efforts of UNITEC through increases in turnover. Some €50 million in sales in 2013 show a 25 % increase over 2012. The decoration of the stand at Fruit Logistica refers, as usual, to the satisfaction of UNITEC’s customers, to be found in the main production areas worldwide. The pictures displayed there show this commanding fact. (3rd picture).   More information about the products presented by UNITEC in Fruit Logistica 2014