Visser  and Mayer provide Gartenbau Hörnes with maximum transplanting power

VIERSEN, Germany: Gartenbau Hörnes in Viersen, Germany will make it in the horticultural history books as being the world’s first ornamental plant company to have their hands on the newest development within the world of Visser Transplanters; the Visser Multi Planter. This new transplanter is developed to plant directly on the carrousel of a Mayer 2400 potting machine.

Fitted with 12 wirelessly controlled grippers, the Visser Multi Planter is extremely accurate and can plant up to 4 plants at a fixed position in a pot. Because the grippers have XY movement they can move independently from each other. This way both supply conveyors can be utilised to its full potential, so that all grippers are in motion 100 per cent of the time. This means no more unproductive waiting time for incoming trays.

Hans Hörnes said:  “When the first supply line is almost empty the right amount of grippers will take these last plants, while the other grippers already go to the second line. Because all grippers are in constant motion it simply works all the time at the highest capacity possible.”

By using new technologies the Visser gripper has been improved with greater precision, higher speed and better gripping force. The wireless grippers are not restricted by cables or tubes, and can be replaced by using a quick switch system. Klaus Hörnes: “Because of the improved gripping force the gripper can pick up 100 per cent of the plants without the need for a push-up unit. Even hard rooted plants can be transplanted with ease.”

By simply changing the programme on the touchscreen, the gripping range will become wider to handle larger plug sizes. Easy adjustable side guiding on the supply conveyors helps to change tray sizes within a matter of seconds. Hans Hörnes; “Changing to different programs never was so easy.”

The new Visser Multi Planter is developed to perfectly match the Mayer 2400 potting machine. The TM 2400 is distinguished just as much by the broad range of pot sizes that can be used as by its peak speeds of up to 7,000 pots per hour. The Visser and Mayer combination can handle a large spectrum of plants and can achieve high capacities without any unnecessary waiting times.

Hans Hörnes; “What was great about this project was the cooperation together with Mayer and Visser. Visser really listened to our ideas and implemented all of our wishes into the transplanting line. This resulted into a versatile and accurate transplanting line which can do everything we need.”

The Visser Multi Planter can be equipped with a different number of grippers, with a range from 6 up to 12 grippers. The transplanter can be built with several kinds of infeed and outfeed options. Customers of Visser have the option to choose between one or two supply chain conveyors. Versatility is increased even more as the transplanter can also be used for tray to tray transplanting.

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