PROJECT
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
mounted on top of the evaporative condensers, have
been mounted on the outer roof sheeting with ducting
in-between.
The temperature cold chain throughout the pack
house has been optimised with an automatic vertical
high-speed door between the packing area and
airlock, vertical roll-up doors on the dispatch openings
to docking enclosures have been fitted with insulated
docking seals, and all temperature-controlled areas are
constructed of insulated panelling, which is also easier
to sanitise.
The state-of-the-art new Luiperdshoek pack house
on Southern Farms has replaced what was lost to fire
and added capacity to meet future market demands.
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1. Chilled water is pump circulated to the pre-cooler coils
and air handling units.
2. Freshly harvested grapes are brought to the pack
house by tractor.
3. The air discharge of the two evaporative condensers is
ducted to the fans fitted on the roof.
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TABLE GRAPES AND CITRUS IN
NEW PACK HOUSE
In March 2017, Cold Link Africa reported
on the Berekisanang development, which
was then a greenfield project outside
Kakamas. A follow-up visit in November
2017 bore witness to the rapid expansion
that has taken place.
Table grapes are no longer packed in
the field, but taken to a new pre-cooler
and straight into an ultra-modern packing
area with three pack lines with the latest
in packed-mass measurement, quality
control, and productivity management.
From the vineyards, trays of freshly
harvested grapes are stacked on skids
and wheeled against one of 18 openings
in the pre-cooler. Grape temperatures
are reduced rapidly by forced air from
the chilled water coils.
Two packaged Aermec water chillers
were installed in a purpose-built plant room
adjacent to the pre-coolers. Chilled water
from the two chillers is pump circulated to
the pre-cooler coils and four air handling
units in the packing area. Air temperature
control in the packing area is essential for
the maximum staff complement of 450 and
the state of the grapes.
“We have invested in the best systems
to automatically minimise the close
tolerance in packed mass as received by
the client. The high investment in this very
sophisticated system will be recovered in
the medium term as a result of improved
productivity, customer satisfaction, and
Two packaged water chillers installed for the pre-coolers and pack house air
handling units.
our bottom line,” says Jacques Clift,
general manager.
From the packing area, the pallets,
ready for sea freight shipment, are
transferred to one of eight rapid cooling
tunnels with 21 pallets in each. Dispatch
of cooled pallets into refrigerated road
vehicles or marine reefer containers is
via two bays with roll-up doors, docking
levellers, and insulated docking seals.
During a tour of the estate, Clift pointed
out the new citrus orchards, each a block
of five hectares. “Our citrus production
of lemons, ruby grape fruit, and Valencia
oranges will follow on from the table
grape season, which ends mid-February.
Our team is excited about the coming
season, which will start with the de-
greening in our chambers that were used
for grape cooling.”
COLD LINK AFRICA • March | April 2018
www.coldlinkafrica.co.za
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