Company report MSP Onions
'New MSP factory is an asset to the onion sector'
You have to do things differently to really make a difference, says Lindert Moerdijk. The ultramodern onion processing and packaging factory of MSP Onions was built on the basis of this vision. Time to take a look at the distribution center in Nieuwdorp, South Beveland, where they work as the bol.com and Amazon of the sector.
The new MSP Onions industrial hall impresses not only from the outside, but also from the inside. The sorting line in particular is impressive. "Infrared images and cameras take 6 photos per onion and an internal scan. 160 onions are photographed per second and assessed for quality deep into the onion," says an enthusiastic Lindert Moerdijk. Moerdijk, export manager at MSP Onions, is the inventor of the company's new processing location.
Sorting and processing is checked from an office, which resembles a control tower. Without any hands being involved, onions can be delivered for quality inspection from any location in storage or a sorting line. Storage is based on a condensation drying system and the entire factory is fully electric. The factory will soon be able to sort 4 types of onions at the same time, such as organic, red or yellow. Or, for example, the product of 4 growers completely separated.
Everyone the same cost
The fact that hardly any hands are involved is characteristic of the entire 'factory'. It distinguishes MSP from other onion processors. "All almost 40 onion processing companies in the Netherlands work in the same way," says Moerdijk. "So they all have a more or less equal cost price and they also largely supply the same customers. A different way of thinking was therefore important," says Moerdijk.
He continues: "Less hands means less costs. We can sort 60 tons per hour and that takes 2 people. Traditionally, 40 to 50 people are involved. We can pack 150 tons per hour with 3 people." This is realized in a factory where no forklift trucks are used, but where smart machines, computers, cameras and sensors do the lion's share of the work.
Export longer
One reason for the mega-investment of more than €20 million is to keep quality high all year round. Optical sorting removes almost all tare from the batches. As a result, MSP can still export after February/March, Moerdijk expects. "After February/March, many countries switch to onions from other countries, purely because of the quality. We can therefore continue to supply top quality."
He explains: "For example, if there is 5% dark onions in a batch, they can no longer go to Brazil. We can now sort that out and use this 5% for another destination, for example. That is important, because the requirements of customers are becoming stricter. We can open new sales areas and supply the existing areas for longer. Supermarkets are beginning to appreciate the quality we can supply. With optical sorting, we can also make better value for waste. What used to be rotten, we can now separate into 4 qualities ."
More return despite more precise sorting
Moerdijk is not afraid that the extra onions will disrupt the market. He also reassures growers who are afraid of losing money on higher tare percentages. "The export market is growing rapidly. As MSP, we still packed 2010 tons of onions per year in 35.000, but now we export over 100.000 tons. With our new factory, we can export longer and more volume, making the market bigger."
The final quality of April must be the same as the final quality of November, is Moerdijk's aim. This will allow demand to last longer and the 'Africa stress' in December (he hopes) will no longer play a role. "If we find maybe 2% more tare, but the grower may eventually earn €0,02 more through additional sales opportunities, he can count out his profit. I think our factory therefore provides a higher return for the grower. That's where we are happy with it, because better earnings for the farmer also means that they can deliver better quality."
A plus of optical sorting is also all the data that the sorting process produces. "We will soon have a database from which we know exactly how the different varieties are doing. That data tells a lot and also helps the grower. Farmers will of course receive this data about their own onions from us. We also hope to collaborate with seed breeding companies." Moerdijk said.
Autonomous trucks
MSP Onions, together with logistics company Kloosterboer, also invests in autonomous trucks. The trucks will soon have to drive independently between the MSP site and the port of Vlissingen. An interesting project, according to Moerdijk. However, the purpose of these autonomous trucks is higher than just transport to the port. "I can envision that these trucks will eventually serve the distribution centers of supermarkets at night, without avoiding traffic jams, and that it will be fully electric. I don't think it could be more sustainable."
When asked whether he can still sleep from the multi-million investment, Moerdijk laughs. "Almost the entire sector says it's not possible. But, the worst thing that can happen to me is that I need more staff in the factory than I thought." Moerdijk is convinced that it will work. "The biggest risk now is how long it will take to test the software. We will start test runs from January."
MSP's investments and progressiveness do not only generate enthusiastic reactions. This became apparent when Eqraft, the supplier of the sorting machines, went bankrupt. Other industry companies, not even all sorters, tried to buy Eqraft to block construction of MSP's new factory. In the end, MSP itself offered the highest bid to the trustee. "I couldn't let the failure of our factory happen," says Moerdijk. "Eqraft is again completely independent and provides the desired service to everyone again. The men from Eqraft have really delivered a world performance this year."
Good relationships damaged
Yet Moerdijk is disappointed. "I don't understand why companies do this, because it is certainly not our goal to drop other processors. Even if we take a step forward now and our quality goes up, the export market is still growing so fast that there is room for the current processors."
MSP Onions wants the entire sector to eventually reach the level of its project, says Moerdijk. "Our factory is set up in such a way that it can function as a showroom. Everyone can come and see me, including growers. If the whole of the Netherlands goes to this level, it is better for the farmer. In this way, we remain the best supplier of onions in the Netherlands. ”
Sorting process the same for 30 years
According to Moerdijk, onion processing is no longer as trend-setting as it used to be. "These machines are decades old and the sorting process has been the same for at least 30 years. Germany, Spain and England are almost overtaking us. Ultimately, that is not good for the Dutch onion sector."
He understands the processors, Moerdijk emphasizes. "The Netherlands has had several bad years, in which it was difficult to invest. But the period when only the farmer has to improve, may be over. Let the sorting and packaging process become Planet Proof."
In any case, the onion export is bizarrely good this season, Moerdijk notes. "The demand is very broad. There is not one country that really stands out, but the total package is superb. The quality is also generally good. Asia is very enthusiastic about our onions and there are no Chinese onions in Africa." The fact that the processing capacity appears to be almost insufficient is also due to the high demand for small packaging. "Consumers demand this due to increasing prosperity. This means more actions for the processor. The new MSP factory is fully equipped for this," says Moerdijk. "Being ready for the future is all that matters."
Area shift
Another shift that Moerdijk sees is in the onion area. "Cultivation in the northern provinces is increasing. It is positive that more onions are being added. Let's hope that the growers who can't irrigate, quickly get nice balances on their onion cultivation. Beautiful cultivation areas (such as Walcheren and Zeeuws-Vlaanderen) can then Even though more onions are grown in the north, we are still in a brilliant place for export, with the port of Vlissingen 2 kilometers away."
Anne-Jan Doorn
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