If you run your own mushroom farm, you know how important it is to maintain work efficiency. Higher efficiency, after all, translates to better profits. This can be achieved through various investments aimed at increasing profitability and modernizing your farm. One essential piece of equipment for the smooth operation of a mushroom farm is a mushroom picking lorry. In this article, we’ll look closely at what makes a suitable lorry and the features and functions it needs to practically improve picking efficiency.
The mushroom picking lorry – a key element of your mushroom farm
As we mentioned, having the right equipment in a mushroom farm is fundamental for generating decent profits. Among the most critical components of the mushroom farm equipment are mushroom picking lorries. These should be crafted from high-quality materials and feature a well-designed structure, complete with essential details. The best lorries should not only be functional, ergonomic, and therefore efficient but also safe, durable, and tailored to the unique needs of each facility.
Lorries significantly ease the work and shorten picking time. Additionally, it’s important to ensure the best possible ergonomic solutions for users. All of this contributes to productivity, safety, and the comfort of those working in your mushroom farm.
Looking for a good mushroom picking lorry? – Key points to consider
Since you’re reading this article, you’re likely wondering which lorry to choose to meet your expectations. Below are several crucial factors to pay attention to:
The speed of the lorry
A lorry should maintain a consistent speed during horizontal movement, regardless of the load on the platform (with harvested mushrooms, the picker’s weight, or variable resistance such as floor gradients or rail distortions). Without this feature, picking efficiency decreases, as the operator will sometimes move slower, sometimes faster, or even stop entirely, disrupting the entire process.
Also, it’s essential to consider how low the lorry’s horizontal speed can be while maintaining a constant pace and necessary power. Ideally, the lorry should allow horizontal movement at minimum speeds no faster than 0.6-0.7 meters per minute, whether empty or fully loaded.
The speed control of the lorry should offer enough settings to allow the picker to adjust it to the working conditions.
Ease of operation and maintenance
Consider whether the lorry’s drives and other electrical components can be easily disconnected or removed. It’s also important to note whether limit switches for each drive are integrated, ensuring easy removal without causing damage. A warning sign in this area would be significant difficulty in operating the drive system or a complete lack of a removable feature. Without the ability to remove the drive, disinfecting or cleaning the lorry will become challenging in the mushroom farm.
The design of removable components (particularly drives) should protect delicate parts in case they are set aside or accidentally struck or dropped after disassembly.
The power system of the lorry
When evaluating the lorry’s power system, pay attention to the current consumption (in amps) generated by the lorry’s drives. The vertical platform drive is particularly relevant here, as it impacts the lorry’s operating time on a single charge, battery longevity, and the durability of the drive system.
Next, check how long the lorry can operate on a single charge, especially when using the horizontal movement drive (which should be engaged for most of the working time). A short runtime reduces efficiency.
Lastly, consider the weight of battery boxes on hanging lorries with removable boxes. A larger battery means more weight, which, with high power consumption, can become impractical, making daily lorry use difficult.
Work safety
Properly performed work also involves maintaining adequate health and safety standards. Quality lorries should be equipped with safety systems. Such equipment should include independent and automatic safety mechanisms in case of uncontrolled platform descent.
In addition, elements that guide the platform must be well-constructed and secured. Below are a few essential safety conditions to meet:
- Protective barriers to prevent falls and ensure the lorry cannot operate with these barriers open.
- Safety systems that automatically stop the lorry when it encounters an obstacle or during uncontrolled platform descent.
- Features to protect hands and arms from being pinched during platform adjustments.
- An anti-slip platform surface to reduce the risk of slipping in high-humidity conditions.
Range of mushroom picking
The most critical spots on the racks are the lowest and highest shelves. The lorry must provide ergonomic access to mushrooms on both levels. Many lorries have limitations in this regard, requiring workers to pick mushrooms from the floor, platform, or even the ground level. GROWTIME lorries allow convenient picking from both the first and last shelves without needing additional lorries for the so-called lower picking.
Guarantee issues
When selecting an appropriate lorry, be sure to review the guarantee period and conditions offered by the supplier. Remember, however, that even the best guarantee can’t replace the value of high-quality equipment, which maximizes product reliability.
Benefits of mushroom picking lorries
Purchasing a high-quality mushroom picking lorry is essential for the profitability and efficiency of your mushroom farm. By choosing the best solutions, you’ll gain:
- Higher yields – Modern lorries with efficient drive systems enable workers to access mushrooms faster and more easily, which can boost picking efficiency by up to 25%.
- Increased work efficiency – the synergy of mobility features in a properly functioning lorry optimizes the picking process, directly translating to higher production, with yields reaching up to 2.5-3 kg of mushrooms per square meter of cultivation.
- Labor cost savings – enhanced work efficiency can reduce the need for workers by an average of 10-20%. Modern lorries allow for optimized staffing, resulting in lower training, insurance, and other labor-related expenses.
- Long-term profitability – although the initial cost of purchasing a high-quality, modern lorry may be higher, this investment quickly pays off. Thanks to increased productivity, labor cost savings, higher yields, and low maintenance costs due to the equipment’s high durability.
- Worker comfort and satisfaction – modern lorries are designed with ergonomics and work comfort in mind. Workers using such tools are less prone to injury and fatigue, increasing job satisfaction and reducing staff turnover.
GROWTIME mushroom picking lorries
At GROWTIME, we understand how much the right lorry can improve an entire facility’s workflow. Over the years, we’ve encountered many demanding customers dissatisfied with the existing market options.
Through attentive listening and the ability to design and produce solutions that address their specific issues, we’ve created lorries that meet the needs of the most demanding customers—customers who continue to return to us, confirming the high quality of our products.
Thanks to this experience, we have developed two lorries with unique characteristics – the Newton electric lorry and the Pascal hydraulic lorry.
The Newton Mushroom Picking Lorry
The Newton lorry is a suspension model designed for comfortable picking from the lowest to the highest shelves. The platform is raised using an electric winch, easily detachable for disinfection. Constructed from stainless steel and aluminum, it’s highly resistant to corrosion. A gravitational lock prevents accidental detachment, while the model with dual drives includes horizontal movement capabilities, also designed for easy disassembly. Transport wheels facilitate movement between chambers, powered by efficient gel batteries.
What other advantages does this lorry model offer?
- Durable seating – made of aluminum and plastic, the seating retains its properties in a humid environment. Its flexible placement allows it to adapt to the worker’s posture and position.
- Adjustable shelves – it includes adjustable shelves for crates and scales, with dimensions and layout tailored to the client’s standards.
- Capacious crate storage – extra space for crates allows for extended work periods without needing to leave the platform, increasing picking efficiency.
- Control remote – the remote controls platform movement in four directions, including horizontal speed adjustment. This feature simplifies mushroom picking, saving worker time and energy, which accelerates harvest and increases yield. The remote also has a quick-release feature.
- Safety – the lorry protects hands and arms from being pinched while working on the platform. Ergonomic guard rails prevent falls, and the lorry design does not allow operation with the gate open. There are two independent systems to stop the platform in potentially dangerous situations.
- Efficient batteries –high-capacity batteries and very low power consumption allow for work lasting 3 to even 5 days or more. Additionally, a special system recovers some energy when the lorry stops and transfers it to the batteries, reducing electricity usage and supporting environmental sustainability.
- Anti-Slip platform – the working surface is designed to minimize the risk of slipping and falling.
- Electrical box – electrical components are housed in a sealed, high-IP-rated box, protecting against water and dirt. Additionally, the Newton lorry offers quick and easy disconnection of 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-driven 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 the Pascal mushroom lorry.
