PACE Mechanical Handling’s Scalable Potato Packing Line Now Available

PACE Mechanical Handling – one of the UK’s designers and installers of automated packing lines - recently launched the Stella Evolution system, a new scalable packing line for on-farm potato packing.

“The Stella Evolution starts at GBP89,500 and features an Electra weigher capable of handling ten tonnes per hour; an In-bag Weigher designed to fill 10 to 25kg potato sacks; an auto sack placer and presenter, and a complete bag control system feeding a heavy-duty SMITSEN DS9C sewing head,” according to a company’s press release.

One of PACE's most recent inventions, the Stella Evolution line of bags has a single bag clamp that senses the size of the bag being given and automatically changes to it, doing away with the necessity for a second bag clamp and the gradual shift that other systems experience.

“Over the last eighteen months, we have seen a rise in inquiries from smaller growers and on-farm packers struggling to operate efficiently given the labor situation. We developed a new line for Olly Palmer, a potato packer in Suffolk, and he was so impressed with the performance, efficiency, and price point that we’ve decided to offer it as a complete solution. The beauty of the Stella Evolution system is that it is scalable, so we can increase or reduce its capacity and features to suit each grower’s needs, hence its name, which is the process by which a star changes over time,” Nick Cesare, PACE’s managing director, mentioned.

O Palmer Ltd supplies Babylon French fries potatoes in 25kg sacks for use by fish and chip shops across the country.

“The new line, which we started using in August, is the third time we’ve worked with PACE. Over the years, we have been impressed with the speed, reliability, and efficiency of PACE’s lines and have only upgraded the line when the technology has moved on significantly. The latest line is the best yet. It is well made, accurate, and more than capable of running at 15 tonnes per hour. We don’t have a large team here, so having the PACE Stella Evolution makes a real difference. My uncle, Steven Sizer, is also involved in potato packing and is using our old PACE line, which still has lots of life left in it!” Palmer declared.

In addition to being scalable and customizable, the Stella Evolution system comes with a five-year warranty on parts and free online service management for the duration of ownership.