With new sorting equipment guided by leading artificial intelligence technology, the upgrade will allow Legacy Packing’s packing shed to pack over five times the volume of its existing line.
AC Foods Australia general manager Brett Jackson said it was an exciting project for the organisation.
“We are genuinely excited about this project. The team has worked hard to get this off the ground, and we are looking forward to becoming a leader in the Australian citrus industry,” Mr Jackson said.
“We will be able to tip in excess of 2000 bins of Sumo Citrus a day when commissioned.”
The investment, which The Courier believes to exceed $25 million, will be allocated to equipment and building.
Mr Jackson said the AI is not replacing human beings, but will be replacing outdated computer technology, leading to greater efficiency and accuracy.
“There will be no decrease in the number of existing jobs,” Mr Jackson said.
“This is about improving what the computers are already doing and is taking it to the next level.”
AC Foods/Legacy Packing is partnered with TOMRA, a leader in designing and manufacturing sensor-based sorting machines and integrated harvest solutions in the food industry.
The upgrade will be a 10-lane pre-grade and 10-lane commit-to-pack line with TOMRA’s newest AI learning sorting equipment, LucAI.
This new line is TOMRA’s largest single installation in the Asia-Pacific region.
“TOMRA Foods have been world leaders in citrus packing for many years and are at the forefront of the latest AI fruit sorting technology,” Mr Jackson said.
“The improvement in speed and efficiency will be a game changer for us.”
Following the major upgrade, Legacy Packing aims to pack more than 200,000 bins of citrus annually, as well as stone fruit and other lines.
“This is the largest investment in the Australian citrus industry for some time, which shows AC Foods’ commitment and belief in the sound fundamentals of citrus in Australia,” Mr Jackson said.
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