Bespoke 60-Metre Plant Handling System Installed in Commercial Glasshouse
We’ve recently completed a major new installation for a new W.S. Barrett & Son customer - a bespoke internal plant handling system designed to improve the movement and processing of young trees and shrubs throughout a commercial glasshouse.
With plants needing to travel considerable distances during day-to-day operations, moving everything manually can take a significant amount of staff time and involve a great deal of repetitive physical handling.
The solution was to design a system around the customer’s existing operation, helping the plants - and the work - come to the team instead.
60 Metres of Main Conveyor
At the heart of the installation are three 20-metre main transport conveyors, providing an impressive 60 metres of conveyor coverage through the glasshouse.
These long conveyor runs allow young trees and shrubs to be transported efficiently between working areas without staff repeatedly carrying or manually moving them over the same distances.
Over the course of a busy day - and an entire growing season - the potential labour saving is considerable.
Keeping the Workflow Moving
Moving plants from one end of a glasshouse to another was only part of the challenge.
The system also incorporates a heavy-duty rotary table, allowing products to be redirected and handled efficiently as they move through different stages of the operation.
By designing each component as part of one integrated system, the aim is to create a smooth and practical workflow rather than simply adding individual pieces of machinery.
Integrated Waste Handling
Keeping the working area organised was another important consideration.
A dedicated waste conveyor has therefore been incorporated into the installation, allowing waste material to be removed as part of the same overall process.
It’s a relatively simple addition that can make a substantial difference to the efficiency and cleanliness of a busy working environment.
Reducing Manual Handling in Commercial Horticulture
Automation doesn’t necessarily mean replacing people. In applications like this, it is about reducing the amount of time skilled staff spend on repetitive, physically demanding jobs that machinery can perform more efficiently.
By reducing the distances plants need to be manually carried or moved, a well-designed handling system can help to:
• Reduce repetitive manual handling
• Save valuable staff time
• Improve the flow of plants through the facility
• Keep working areas organised
• Increase operational throughput
• Allow staff to concentrate on higher-value tasks
For a large commercial nursery or glasshouse, those improvements can add up to significant savings over the working life of the equipment.
Designed Around the Customer
No two nurseries or glasshouses operate in exactly the same way, which is why this project was designed specifically around the customer’s facility, products and working processes.
From the three long conveyor runs to the rotary table and dedicated waste line, each element has a purpose within the overall operation.
We’d like to thank our new customer for trusting W.S. Barrett & Son with such a substantial installation.
It’s fantastic to see the completed system in place and ready to work.
Could Your Operation Work More Efficiently?
If you operate a commercial nursery, glasshouse or horticultural business and are spending too many staff hours manually moving plants, pots, compost or materials, it could be time to look at automation.
W.S. Barrett & Son can design plant handling, conveyor, filling and production solutions around your individual operation.
Talk to our team about where time and labour could be saved in your business.
Call now on 01205 362585 Email: olivia@wsbarrett.co.uk
