Making the Climate Control Computer ‘Do the Right Things’

For the latest edition of the Potato Business Digital magazine, we reached out to Jan van Maldegem, product manager from Tolsma-Grisnich, to talk about potato storage control systems’ issues and solutions, in a revealing and comprehensive interview.

He explained that it’s not only the control systems that will guarantee maximum storage efficiency. The human factor remains essential to make the climate control computer ‘do the right things’.

P.B. Digital: What is your company's approach to helping storage managers balance the demand for high-quality yield with the ability to monitor in real-time while tracking food safety and traceability requirement?

Jan van Maldegem: When we talk about traceability requirements in box storage we developed a tracking in tracing system. Each box is equipped with two RFID tags which makes the box unique. On the forklift antennas are mounted which can scan the RFID tag. A panel PC on the forklift shows the number of the box and based on a database the content of the box, the position in storage, and many other information can be added to the box. For both bulk and box storages on the Vision Control climate control computer all the temperatures, relative humidity, and CO2 data are registered and can be reviewed later or processed in e.g. Excel graphs. All this data and information will help to maintain quality and can be used to proof the workflow for several quality certificates e.g. Global GAP.

Which criteria must potato stores meet for the control systems to function properly, and what options do customers with non-ideal storage facilities have?

Control systems are only able to work properly if the potato store is well insulated and the air circulation through the storage is equal all over the product. Besides this, the measured values of the various sensors must be correct. If the control system signals that a ventilation or cooling action is required because the product temperature is too high and this value isn’t right due to a deviating sensor, not only energy will be spoiled but also potatoes may lose moisture unnecessarily or become wet by condensation of moisture in the air.

What’s important for both ideal and non-ideal storages is that the storage is easily accessible to inspect the potatoes in storage regularly. Also, think about enough light in the storage to be able to inspect the potatoes for the possible occurrence of rot or the start of sprouting. It’s not only the control systems that will guarantee maximum storage efficiency. The eye (and the nose) of the master are essential to make the climate control computer do the right things.

You can read the rest of this article in your complimentary e-copy of Issue 3 of Potato Business Digital 2023 magazine, which you can access by clicking here.