M.A. J.M.M. Polman, Royal Commissioner in Zeeland, officially opened on Friday, September 18, the new, fully automated potato receiving area at Lamb Weston/Meijer, producer of frozen potato products and dehydrated potato flakes.
With the symbolic transfer of a bucket filled with potatoes, Mr. Polman opened the new state-of-the-art facility, in the presence of all the parties involved. “This enables Lamb Weston/Meijer to be a step ahead of their competitors and to be a frontrunner in the Dutch food processing industry,” said Mr. Polman.
Lamb Weston/Meijer invested 20 million euros in the automated potato receiving area, consisting of three lines at the Kruiningen plant. After receiving them, the potatoes are checked directly at entry, washed and then sorted, all fully automated.
Furthermore, this new potato receiving area offers benefits for our transporters and drivers. In addition to facilities such as separate waiting and sleeping areas, this location provides optimal logistical efficiency, strongly reducing waiting times and unnecessary logistic movements at the site.
Rinco Boender, Operations Manager at the Kruiningen plant: “This new potato receiving area helps us respond even better to market requirements, and increases our production flexibility. The receiving and sorting area is based on the first-time-right principle. The potatoes are immediately sorted correctly by the machines, resulting in optimal quality potatoes. This benefits our end product.”
CEO Bas Alblas is proud of the result: “Together with our employees and chain partners (growers, suppliers and customers), Lamb Weston fulfils its promise of ‘Seeing possibilities in potatoes’, with the implementation and commissioning of this complex project.”
