Campotec - Comercialização e Consultadoria Horto-Frutícolas, SA

A high productivity is crucial in the rural production in order to reduce exploitation costs and to increase the international competitiveness of the products. Both products (apples and pears) have to be carefully collected by hand in order to protect the fruits from internal and external defects. Traditionally the collecting of fruits was performed using mobile ladders (extension ladders and double sided step ladders). The efficiency of the collection process was very low and the risk to accidents and health problems to the workers was very high. Simultaneously to reduce workload on the employees, to increase the efficiency of the process and to increase the quality of the products  by simplifying the collection process were the main objectives to achieve by the producers.

The first solution presented is a relatively low investment solution, with some efficiency in the collection of fruits and in the transportation of fruits to the storage area. The weight handling in each movement by the employees is very low (2-4 fruits) and the trunk and shoulder postures are controlled by the two phases of collection: under and above shoulder level.

The second solution presented is a semi-automatic process with a higher investment solution, with high efficiency in the collection of fruits and in the transportation of fruits to the pallets. Also the trunk and shoulder postures of the employees during fruit collection are controlled by the height of the standing platforms and by the height of the fruits belt conveyors.

Reduced workload on the employees, increased efficiency of the collecting process and increased quality of the products (less surface and internal defects) were the main results achieved by the new collecting processes. Simplification and safety of the processes allowed temporary non-experienced employees, like young students and older employees to perform the job during the months of August and September with a very low risk to their health and safety.