If you run your own mushroom farm, you know perfectly well how important productivity is. It goes without saying that higher productivity means better profit. Its improvement can be achieved, among other things, through various investments aimed at modernising the plant. One piece of equipment that is currently essential for the proper functioning of a mushroom farm is the mushroom picking lorry. In this article, we will have a closer look at what the right lorry should be and what features and functions it must have in order to improve harvesting efficiency in practice.
Mushroom picking lorry – an essential part of your mushroom farm
As we have already mentioned, the right equipment for your mushroom farm is essential if you want to make a decent profit from it. One of the most important elements in the machine park are the mushroom picking lorries. They should be made of the highest quality materials, not forgetting a correctly designed construction with important details. The best lorries must not only be functional, ergonomic and thus efficient, but also safe, durable and adapted to the specific needs of the plant.
The main advantage of the lorries is that they make work easier and reduce harvesting times. In addition to this, it is also important to provide the best possible ergonomic solutions for users. All of this is for the productivity, safety and comfort of those working in your mushroom house.
Looking for a good mushroom lorry? – This is what you need to keep in mind!
Since you are reading this article, you are surely wondering which lorry to choose to meet your expectations. Below we have put together some of the most important factors you absolutely must pay attention to, these are primarily:
The speed of the lorry
The lorry should maintain and control a constant speed of horizontal movement regardless of the load on the platform with the mushrooms collected, the weight of the picker or the variable resistance (floor dips or deformation of the guides). If the lorry does not have such a function, it will reduce the efficiency of the mushroom picking process, because the picker will go slower once and faster once or will stop at extremes, which will disrupt the whole process.
Finally, it is also important to know how low the horizontal travel speeds the lorry is able to reach, maintaining a constant speed and the necessary power. The lorry should give horizontal travel capabilities in the minimum speed range of no faster than 0.6-0.7 metres per minute when empty and fully loaded.
The speed control of the lorry should allow for a sufficiently large number of speed levels so that the collector is able to adapt it to the working conditions.
Operation of the device
It is worth noting, for example, whether the lorry drives and other electrical components of the lorry control can be easily disconnected/disassembled. A red light in this regard should be that the drive system is very difficult to operate or that it is not possible to use such a function at all. If the drive cannot be disassembled, or it is difficult to do so, it will be impossible to disinfect/wash the lorry, which will be problematic in a mushroom house.
Lorry power system
In this matter, pay attention to the current consumption (amperes) of the lorry. Especially important here is the drive that moves the platform up and down. This will have an impact on the running time of the lorry as well as the life of the batteries and other drive components, their excessive wear and tear and even safety.
Next, check how long the lorry operates on a single battery charge, especially when using the horizontal motion drive (which should be engaged most of the time) – too little time limits performance.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that the weight of the battery boxes is also important (a larger battery means more weight). With too much weight, or by default too much power consumption, the solution is no longer ergonomic and even hinders the daily use of the lorry.
Occupational safety
Getting the job done properly also means following the right health and safety rules. Good lorries should therefore be equipped with safety systems. Among other things, such a device should have independent and automatic safety systems in the event of an uncontrolled fall of the platform.
In addition to this, when it comes to safety, it is also important that the platform guiding elements are properly manufactured and secured. Here are some very basic conditions to be met:
- fall-arrest barriers that prevent the lorry from operating without being closed,
- safety systems that independently stop the lorry when it runs into an obstacle or during a potential uncontrolled fall of the platform;
- safety features that prevent the hand or arm of the picker from being cut during platform manipulation;
- an anti-slip platform that makes moving in wet conditions less risky.
Range of mushroom picking
The most sensitive areas on the shelves are the lowest and the highest shelf. The lorry must provide ergonomic access to the mushrooms on both shelves. Unfortunately, many lorries are very limited in this area, so that workers have to pick up mushrooms from the floor, the floor or the cultivation chamber or are unable to sufficiently pick up mushrooms from the last shelf and at the ends of the shelves. GROWTIME lorries make it possible to harvest mushrooms from the first shelf and the last shelf conveniently. You do not need to use additional lorries for so-called bottom harvesting.
Guarantee issues
When choosing the right picking lorry, it is essential to pay attention to the period and conditions of the guarantee offered by the supplier. Remember, however, that even the best guarantee will not assure you as much as the high quality of the machines you purchase, which maximises the reliability of the product.
Advantages of mushroom picking lorries
Above all, buying a good mushroom picking lorry is crucial to the profitability and efficiency of your mushroom farm. By opting for the best solutions, you gain:
- Increased yields – modern powered lorries enable workers to access mushrooms ready for harvesting more quickly and easily. This enables mushroom farms to increase their harvesting efficiency by up to approximately 25%,
- Higher labour efficiency – the synergy of features related to the mobility of the lorry (working in the right way) optimises the harvesting process, which directly translates into higher production, where yields can reach up to 2.5-3 kg of mushrooms per m² of cultivation.
- Savings on labour costs – improved labour efficiency allows the number of employees to be reduced by an average of 10% to 20%. Modern lorries allow optimisation of the workforce; fewer employees also mean less expenditure on training, insurance and other employee benefits.
- Long-term cost-effectiveness – although the initial cost of purchasing a modern and high-quality lorry may be higher, the investment pays for itself quickly. All thanks to increased productivity, labour cost savings, higher yields and low maintenance costs due to the high durability of the equipment.
- Employee comfort and satisfaction – modern lorries are designed with ergonomics and comfort in mind. Employees using such tools are less prone to injury and fatigue, which translates into their greater job satisfaction and therefore lower staff turnover.
GROWTIME mushroom picking lorries
At GROWTIME, we know very well how the right lorries can improve the work of an entire plant. Over the years of our work, we have seen many underdeveloped solutions, the shortcomings of which have allowed us to create the perfect lorry, answering all the problems you may encounter when running a mushroom farm.
Thanks to this experience, we have created two lorries with different characteristics – an electric lorry (Newton) and a hydraulic lorry (Pascal).
Newton mushroom picking lorry
The Newton lorry is a suspension lorry that has been designed for the comfortable harvesting of mushrooms from the lowest as well as the highest shelves. The lifting of the platform is done by means of an electric winch.
The winch, also known as an electric drive, has an easy disconnect feature from the lorry for disinfection, and is made of stainless steel and aluminium for high corrosion resistance. A gravity lock on the platform protects it from accidental release. The dual-drive version of the Newton lorry has a horizontal movement drive, which also has an intuitive removal function. Transport wheels make it easy to move the lorry between chambers, and the whole thing is powered by powerful gel batteries.
What other advantages does this lorry model have?
- Durable seat – made of aluminium and plastic, retains its properties in damp environments. Adjustable at any point, it adapts to the posture and position of the worker.
- Adjustable shelves – has adjustable shelves for crates and weight, the size and layout of which we adapt to customer standards.
- Capacious crate storage – the extra crate storage space allows the operator to work for longer periods without having to leave the platform, increasing harvesting efficiency.
- Remote control – the remote control allows the platform to be controlled in four directions, including adjustment of horizontal speed. This facilitates mushroom picking, saving the worker time and energy. The remote control has an easily removable function.
- Safety – the lorry provides protection against cutting hands or arms when working with the platform. In addition, the ergonomic rails protect against falling off and the design of the lorry does not allow working with the wicket open. It has two independent systems to stop the platform in a potentially dangerous situation.
- High-performance batteries – powerful batteries and very low power consumption enable operation from 3 to even 5 days or more. In addition, when the lorry stops, a special system recovers some of the energy and transfers it to the batteries to reduce electricity consumption and care for the environment.
- Non-slip platform – the working platform is designed to minimise the risk of slipping and falling.
- Electrical Box – electrical components are protected in a sealed box (IP67), which protects against flooding and dirt. In addition, the Newton lorry provides the ability to quickly and easily disconnect all electrical components.
Mushroom picking lorry Pascal
The Pascal lorry is a more advanced design. It is characterised by the fact that it is self-propelled and has a mobile platform, enabling mushrooms to be picked ergonomically from all the shelves of the rack, including the lowest and highest ones. The platform is lifted by hydraulic cylinders and the lorry is moved by active wheels on the floor. Power supply is provided by high-performance rechargeable batteries, which also work with an integrated weighing system.
Key features of the Pascal lorry
In addition to what you will find on the Newton model, the Pascal lorry has a few other interesting features. These are, above all:
- Remote control – the remote control allows control of the lorry in terms of forward, backward and platform raising and lowering movements, changing the travel speed, as well as loading a conventional portable scale.
- Safety of the lorry start-up through quick login – the lorry starts up only after logging in with a proximity chip, which increases the safety of use for authorised/trained persons (the system can also be deactivated).
- Stability and safety – dual inductive sensor circuits protect against loss of stability of the lorry. Robust chains and barriers protect the worker from falling off the platform.
- High-performance batteries – the batteries provide up to 40 hours of operation and charge indicators provide information on their status. The charging process is automatic, eliminating the need for supervision – in addition, the batteries are recharged when the lorry is stopped thanks to energy recovery.
- LED lighting – a built-in LED lamp provides illumination of the shelves, making it easier to select mushrooms and reducing visual fatigue.
- Stop system – a sensitive stop system protects against collisions and ensures safety in the mushroom house.
- Independent drive belts – two reinforced drive belts, made of durable materials, ensure the safety and reliability of the platform lift.
- Mushroom calibrator – a built-in stainless steel calibrator enables the diameter of mushrooms to be measured accurately.
What else makes GROWTIME lorries special?
To make your work even easier, we have also equipped our lorries with:
- Mushroom weighing system integrated into the lorry.
- Availability of durable, stainless steel calibrators.
- Soft ergonomic seat adjustable in two planes
- Mobility – the entire lorry rolls out of the chamber.
- Speed settings from foreman level.
- High platform load – the lorry does not need to be emptied as often.
- Loading system for portable/traditional scales
- Luminous information on lorry travel – harvesting capacity and kg yield per 1 m2.
What do you gain by choosing our mushroom picking lorries?
Investing in ergonomic mushroom picking lorries is the key to increased productivity. By choosing our solutions, you not only gain a 25% increase in harvesting efficiency, but also an extra 2.5 kg-3 kg of yield per square metre. Choosing a good lorry is the approach to achieving better financial results.
Would you like to know more about our offer? Contact us by phone or email! We will help you choose the ideal solution for your mushroom farm. Also visit the pages dedicated to our lorries: the Newton mushroom lorry and Pascal mushroom lorry.
