As we prepare to say goodbye to 2025, it’s important to take stock of all the progress our industry has made. While no year is without its challenges, this has been an exciting time of change – one where we’ve adopted new and different technologies. At Volm Companies alone, we welcomed a wide range of equipment innovations this past year. Each of these advancements is intended to support growers and packers, positioning them for success for years to come.

THE RISE OF THE CASE PACKER

One of the most exciting trends we’ve seen is the rising interest in case packers. This comes as some retailers move toward more cases, trays and RPCs – rigid formats that allow for more uniformity. Thankfully, Volm offers several fully automated solutions that handle a wide range of product in a long list of packaging styles. That includes net bags for onions, pillow packs for potatoes, clamshells for tomatoes, top-sealed trays for berries and so on. Newest to the list is wicketed bags now that the Volmpack WiC-P 100 has joined our portfolio. This fully automated case packing solution is the first of its kind, handling wicketed consumer bags with speed and precision. Thanks to layer-sizing control and optimized, high-speed patterns, the WiC-P 100 fills cartons, trays and RPCs at rates of up to 60 bags per minute.

BAGS TO BINS IN RECORD SPEEDS

Other additions to our portfolio include new and updated bag-to-bin solutions – innovations that speak to the rising demand for storage and display-ready bins. The Volmstack Bag-to-Bin Robot was updated this year so that it fills bins in record speed with a smaller-than-ever footprint. Incredibly efficient and reliable, it can also stack bulk bags, bales, cartons and RPCs. We also introduced the Volmstack VST40 B, our new conventional palletizer that’s multi-purpose – filling bins with bags and stacking pallets with both consumer and bulk-format bags. Here, you’re able to switch between bins and pallets with the simple push of a button.

EXCITING NEW PARTNERSHIPS

Another exciting development is our new partnership with Flikweert Vision, a dynamic company that uses artificial intelligence and advanced camera technology for optical grading and sorting. We’ve welcomed two Flikweert machines to our portfolio – the Divider and QualityGrader, which have garnered an incredible amount of interest. Another vendor we’ve recently begun working with is VHM, whose sturdy solutions include bin, box and tote handling. Their equipment offerings reduce the need for forklift traffic and can also make your operations far more efficient.

A SOLUTION FOR CARROT BALING

The past year also saw us welcome a new and exciting option for carrot facilities: the Volmpack Carrot Auto-Baler. This newly designed solution closes master bags with a heat seal, providing a reliable alternative to the labor-intensive task of baling. I look forward to seeing it transform carrot operations going forward!

SUSTAINABILITY = SAVING MONEY

One of the areas where our industry has seen a lot of progress is around sustainability. Notably, the benefits are not only intended for our planet – but also our pocketbook. As the market continues to face economic and regulatory challenges, sustainable solutions are proving their worth by reducing costs (less waste, less water), improving yields and minimizing regulatory risks, especially around water consumption. This is why our exclusive partnership with Wyma Solutions is so valuable; they understand that sustainable practices mean smart business. Specifically, this partnership is intended to help growers and packers meet today’s challenges through several innovative equipment solutions including gentle handling equipment, water recycling systems and hydrocooling technology. Overall, 2025 has been a highly productive year – one filled with new relationships, new equipment and lots of excitement for the future. I look forward to another year of serving our valued customers and bringing them the very best in innovation.
 

Wayne DeCou
Equipment Director, Volm Companies
Wayne.DeCou@volmcompanies.com