Have you seen the latest version of Compac’s DVD?
Released in August 2007 this edition includes new sections on Citrus, Pomegranates, Tomatoes and Bell Peppers. It is available in 4 language options - English, Italian, French and Spanish. If you have not yet seen it ask your local sales representative or email info@compacsort.com

Don Armson, Compac's USA Market Manager, with Jay Anderson of Del Ray Juice Co., CA, sizing up the fruits of the sea on Auckland's Hauraki Gulf. 

Craig Hart, Compac's Bay of Plenty Sales Manager, and Delwyn Anderson-Smith, Operations Manager of Aongatete Packhouse at the recent Post Harvest Kiwifruit Seminar in Tauranga, NZ.

Free Call numbers have been created for customers to access the Compac Service Teams in Australia and the USA.

Australia Free Call: 1800 682 857

USA Free Call: 1877 402 1755

CPMA Annual Convention
14 - 16 May 2008
Calgary
CANADA

FRESH 2008
21-23 May 2008 
Antwerp
BELGIUM

Asia Fruit Logistica
10 - 12 September 2008  HONG KONG

SIAL
19 - 23 October 2008
Paris
FRANCE

PMA Fresh Summit
24 - 27 October 2008
Florida
USA

Compac's SLS demo machine with InVision 9000IR blemish detection, NIR to identify internal defect, with air baggers and rotary pack table at the World Ag Expo, Tulare, CA, USA in February.

For the last Compac Innovations newsletter click here.

Compac staff working overtime in Latin America.

Compac's Global Expansion Continues

Photo:  President Li of Shanghai Huayuan (left) shakes hands with Mr HH Song after signing Compac's first Sale Agreement in China. 

New Year's Day heralded a great start to 2008 with the official establishment of Compac's first sales and service team in China. As a fast emerging market in terms of fruit and vegatable production China holds huge potential for Compac's smart produce sorting systems. Compac's General Manager Mr Bob Shaw says, "China is a strategic market. This is another step towards Compac becoming a global player with a presence in most major produce growing markets, including Asia."

Compac China's sales and service team are all local Chinese nationals, highly experienced in the produce sorting equipment industry. General Manager Sales, Mr HH Song is based in Beijing and services the northern provinces, while Mr Jim Huang is the Sales Manager for Southern China. Mr Ruler Zhang is the Service Technician. Shaw says, "Although this is a very small team for such a large market they have hit the ground running and already have generated significant interest for Compac in China."

In early April Mr HH Song successfully signed up Compac's first turnkey sorting system in China. Sold to Shanghai Huayuan, based on the outskirts of Shanghai, this two lane Compac sorting system with InVision 5000 will be used to color grade apples.

Major Growth in Internal Defect Detection

The latest Near Infra Red (NIR T1) units used to identify internal defects such as Internal Browning (Water Core Breakdown) in apples and Internal Brown Spot in potatoes are proving their worth. Since the first 18 units were commercially installed in the USA in August 07  demand to date for this technology has more than tripled with significant results.

Patrick O'Brine from Zirkle-Rainier, the large apple producer in Washington state says, "We are very pleased, the NIR T1 is a big step forward from the R2".

The potential savings from detecting internal defects is huge. David Auvil from Auvil Fruit says "We don't need them often but when we do...  2-3,000 bins saved, that's a lot of money!"

The first NIR T1 units for apple defect detection in Australia are due for installation at Batlow Fruits this month.

Tom Laurie, Operations Manager of Compac's sister company Taste Tech says, "This technology has also been used on potatoes and is being trialed on pomegranates and onions."

For further information on NIR T1 technology click here.

Compac Takes Large Bite of US Apple Crop 

Lastest figures confirm that of the 100 million cartons of apples grown in Washington State, USA, 71.5 million cartons are being sorted by Compac Color Sorters. Producing over 58% of the total USA apple crop WA is by far the largest apple growing area. New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California and Virginia are the next 5 largest apple growing states totalling 30% between them.

Compac installed its first apple sorting system in the USA in 1998 and 10 years on is sorting well over 41.5% of the total USA apple crop. A large bite of a very big apple! Also with apple sorting installations in Michigan and New York Compac's expects its share of the US market will continue to grow.

Compac Wins Key South African Citrus Project

Compac has been chosen as the supplier for pre-grade and commit to pack machines for the largest packhouse project in South Africa. Good Hope Citrus, located approximately 250km north of Cape Town, will install 2 x 8 lane Compac pre-graders with InVision 9000CIR blemish grading system for their main orange pack-line. Also to be installed on the line are 2 x 8 lane commit to pack machines with InVision 5000C for final sizing prior to packing.

The management of Good Hope Citrus did extensive evaluations of blemish technology available from the major international manufacturers prior to Compac being awarded the project. Over a 2 year period Good Hope Citrus visited pack-houses in Australia, Europe and the USA to view and evaluate the technology available. Compac's InVision technology performance, software use interface and company commitment made Compac the winning choice

We're very pleased to partner with Good Hope Citrus for this project and others in the future.

Rapid Pack - NEW model

Compac has recently installed six of the new version Rapid Pack units into one of New Zealand's newest apple packhouses. This follows successful trials of 10 Rapid Pack Units over the past two years. The Rapid Pack mechanically pockets fruit into the apple trays achieving  significantly increased fill rates whilst running at higher volumes. Major labour savings ranging from 35-50% reduction in labour units normally required in the tray packing area are achieveable.

Flexi Bin Filler Range

For customers in Latin America, USA (excl WA), Australia and Asia, Compac can now offer its range of Flexi Bin Fillers. Available in 115V or 230V, fully or semi-automatic, swing or in-line options, these bin fillers are gentle on fruit minimizing the chance of damage. The staged fruit delivery system from the belt to the bin combined with a rotary fill action results in excellent bin fill quality. These safe, portable, easy to operate and maintain, high throughput bin fillers are designed to handle standard bins from 1000-1600mm wide by 1000-1200mm deep, however have been used on many different bin sizes, shapes and materials. Speak to your local Compac sales team for further information.

A number of new Sizer Software features have been recently released. Please speak to your local Compac sales representative for further details. The key new features are:

Auto Print Multiple Batch Reports
Multiple batch reports can now automatically be printed on batch change. Previously only single batch reports could be selected.

Labeling by Outlet
It is now possible to set up labeling for outlets. Please note that the outlets need to be in Advanced Sequencing.

Snooze Alarms
There is now a “Snooze” button on the alarm pop-up window. The default time is 2 minutes but can be configured with the Magic Number Alarm Snooze Time.

Compac Eclipse Plug ‘n Play

Development is currently under way on a modular wiring system for Compac Sizer and Peripheral machines. Known as the Compac Eclipse Plug ‘n Play Sizer the key benefits to customers will be:

• The Pre-wired Eclipse Electrical Plug ‘n Play system will arrive on site in sections that can simply be plugged together.

• Distributed control. The electrical motor control switchgear will be located within arms reach of the motors eliminating mass runs of cables.

• Less room required as all control panels are mounted within the machine. No need to accommodate large centralized control panels.

• Looks good with no electrical conduit and cables defacing the machine.

• Reduced installation time. As soon as the machine is mechanically installed it is ready to plug in and run. Testing can start immediately.

• Additional safety. As soon as safety switches (eg wire-pull switches) are installed the machine is ready to run.

• Turn-key installation. Compac can be solely responsible for installing and commissioning the equipment eliminating the need for additional contract work.

• Scalability. Machine extensions or peripherals can be easily added by simply plugging them into the supply and machine network.

• Graphical user interface. A range of user friendly touch screen, push button or keyboard graphical interface options are available.

New Faces in Compac's Sales & Support Team
Recent key appointments we welcome to Compac:

• Mark Burch - Technology Trainer 
• Rose Smith - Software & Electronics Development Manager
• Kallie Cloete - Packhouse Design Engineer - Turnkey Systems
• Pablo Galmes - Market Manager Argentina
• HH Song - Market Manager China
• Jim Huang - Sales Manager - Southern China

Recent key appointments we welcome to Compac:

It is an extremely busy time of year for our Service Team. Normally Compac has a handful of machines in operation year round in New Zealand. However from January to June with the Apple and Kiwifruit seasons in full swing, we see an exponential jump in the number of machines in operation to well over 100. Two thirds of these machines start within a two week period, sorting Kiwifruit. Coupled with this, there are numerous new installations that are underway in New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and the USA.

Staff News: 
On the local front, we have welcomed Simone Zoffoli (Simon), an experienced field technician from our sister company in Italy, Compac Sorma Europe. Simone will be working as one of our Auckland based technicians for the next couple of years.

Contact Us:
We would also like to take the opportunity to remind you that you can contact us in the following ways:

Email: Parts Orders and Queries:   parts@compacsort.com

Parts List On-Line:
The Compac spare parts catalogue is now available online.
Apply now for a password to access this via our customer information area.

For any questions or suggestions relating to service, email   service@compacsort.com

There are currently 2 used Compac machines available:

• Compac Single Lane Color and Weight Sorter with 24 outlets (1997) - South Australia
  
• Compac Single Lane Sorter with InVision 3000 Dimension and Shape Sorter, used 3 seasons only - Whangarei, New Zealand

For more information visit Compac's website www.compacsort.com or contact your local Compac Sales Office.