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Thousands of small growers fill containers manually, but this repetitive, time-consuming task can be mechanized to reduce labor and provide a more uniform fill. A question I frequently receive is, “How many containers do I have to fill a year to afford a machine that will pay for itself in a reasonable time?” Use the following tables and formula to get a reasonable estimate. To calculate the approximate number of containers you need to fill per year, use this formula: No. containers per year = MC / SPB (HFC – MFC)
MC (initial machine cost): This includes the price of the machine, freight charges, installation and setup. The lowest-cost machines are semi-automatic. Containers are manually pushed on a roller conveyor under a vibrating hopper. The soil falls from the hopper into the container and is leveled with a brush. Maximum rate is about 700 flats per hour, and this process works best with two people. The cost of this machine is approximately $5,000, and it is available from Randall Tools Mfg. More mechanized container fillers are available from these companies: Bouldon & Lawson, Mayer N.A., Pack Mfg., S.B.Machinereie, Kase Horticulture and Javo USA. SPB (simple payback): Simple payback is the amount of time that it takes to recover the initial investment in the container filling machine. It will give a ballpark estimate that will help in evaluating different machines, but it doesn’t account for maintenance or inflation. Payback should be less than the useful life of the machine. A shorter payback is less risky. Most machines are considered to have a five-year useful life, but it may be longer due to limited use, quality construction and good maintenance.
If you'd like to get a payback of five years, then you would have to fill 6,250 flats per year:
The container filling machine should be considered part of a materials handling system. Storing the empty containers nearby and having conveyors or carts to move them so that walking is minimized will help to keep costs down. Have a question? You can write John at jbartok@rcn.com. |
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