Weyers Group

“Sorting sprouts with a camera system meant we had to automate our box logistics.”

The Weyers Group location at Freshpark Venlo is a hive of activity. A large team comprising sales, accounting, HR, and management is fully dedicated to the daily trade in fruit and vegetables. The group is also involved in cultivation and works with growers in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and Spain. On the factory floor, more than 120 permanent employees are sorting, packaging, and preparing all vegetables for shipment. Since 2024, Weyers has also been using a camera sorting system to sort sprouts – supplied by VHM crate logistics.

The ambition

Operational director Erik van Maren is fully occupied managing the many dynamic challenges Weyers faces. Erik says, “This ranges from commercial tasks to planning challenges, personnel scheduling, and logistics. I deal with all operational matters. For instance, in 2022, we found out about TechNature when we were looking for a proven system to make sorting sprouts much more efficient. We were particularly interested in TechNature’s SproutCam. With this, we could not only sort sprouts much faster with significantly less human effort but also provide better assurance of consistent product quality to our customers.”

The challenge

“Finding enough staff is a major challenge across the agricultural world, and Weyers Group is no exception. Automation is an obvious choice to address this challenge. For years, we’ve been packaging sprouts and supplying them primarily to the German market. However, meeting German supermarkets’ strict requirements requires a great deal of labor. Until recently, everything was done manually; six to twelve people worked on this from mid-September to January, or even longer if winter allowed it.”

“With the SproutCam, we can sort eleven tons of sprouts per hour and operate three packaging lines. These are impressive volumes, of course, but the challenge was to bring the supply up to speed. Traditional methods of bringing in cube crates with forklifts were no longer sufficient. That’s when we contacted VHM.”

“The only thing you set on the screen is the box size; 250, 300 or 700 kilograms. The rest goes by itself.”

Erik van Maren, operations director Weyers Group

About Weyers Group

Weyers Group is a sizeable family business, consisting of an international collection of AGF companies in the Netherlands, Germany, and Great Britain. The group focuses on the production, sale and transport of fresh vegetables throughout Europe. Weyers Group aims to serve customers and suppliers in the best possible way, with an eye for quality. By being present in every link from country to supermarket, Weyers Group ensures daily fresh quality at an attractive price. In addition to trading, Weyers Group also offers opportunities and solutions in the areas of production, packaging, storage and logistics.

The solution

“TechNature worked with VHM, and within a few months, came up with a setup for the machines. VHM provided a buffer conveyor and supply system, allowing boxes to be stacked, unstacked, and emptied completely automatically. Forklifts now bring in two or three crates at a time instead of one, which has led to more calm on the factory floor as the number of forklift movements has significantly decreased. A significant additional benefit!”

The result

“Thanks to the combination of the SproutCam and VHM’s box logistics, we’re able to process the sprouts much more efficiently. VHM has made it possible for us to work with boxes weighing 250, 300, and 700 kilograms. All you have to do is enter this on the machine’s screen, and then everything happens automatically, including destacking and stacking the boxes. For the 250- and 300-kilo boxes, stacks of three are formed; for the 700-kilo boxes, stacks of two. It works flawlessly, and we’re very satisfied with it!”