The introduction of robotic technology is one of the driving forces behind a New Zealand apple exporter’s expansion. Rockit Global, which exports snack-sized apples packed into tubes for on-the-go consumption to more than 30 countries, unveiled its new state-of-the-art apple packhouse in Hastings earlier this year.
The company installed four H&C apple tube-filling machines, which each contain three robots, to automate the picking and packing of apples into Rockit’s tube packaging. The robots were custom -designed by global food processing technology company, MHM Automation.