Used Equipment Options for Commercial Blueberry Processing
Setting up a blueberry processing plant represents a major outlay of capital which can be quite difficult for small producers to finance. One solution is to purchase used processing equipment rather than by purchasing such equipment new whenever this is possible. For example, used packaging machinery can be obtained for a mere fraction of the price of such machinery purchased first-hand. A refrigeration unit, a grading belt, a weighing machine, and a used coder machine are other examples of required equipment which a wise producer will consider purchasing second-hand rather than new. Besides obtaining the benefits of lower initial costs, second-hand equipment is proven and doesn’t require a breaking-in period, with the bugs and engineering headaches and which new machinery often brings.
Strict quality control is a problem faced by all blueberry producers. For example, an x-ray metal detector to scan outgoing boxes of fruit for metallic trash can be obtained much more cheaply used than new. Similarly, it is much more economical to obtain used laboratory equipment for quality control than to invest substantial sums to equip a laboratory new, or to rely upon outside consultants.
It is necessary for commercial blueberry growers to have some market for broken and underripe fruit. If sufficient manpower and time are available, the grower can more profitably process this fruit himself. For example, a gas kettle is necessary for producing jellies and juices. A pressure canner and sealing machine can also be purchased much more cheaply second-hand.
The problem with buying used equipment, of course, is to ensure that the machinery is in good repair and that the supplier is responsible and will stand behind the equipment he sells. It is recommended that the grower avail himself of a reputable company, such as the Frain Group, before investing in used machinery.