"Autostix to set a new industry standard"

 

Visser Horti Systems announces a cooperation with Ball for AutoStix. During the Visser Open Days, 12-16 June, Visser will launch the AutoStix program for the world market. Ball will be the exclusive owner of AutoStix in the US. 

 

"The US wide trials have been very successful and very promising, with over 5 million cuttings automatically stuck at rooting stations", the company writes in a news release. After Ball & Visser finalize all trials, the system will be an open source system, to build on a new industry standard. 

 

Visser claims that AutoStix provides many different advantages for the grower: "a better consistency and uniformity with shipped cuttings, easier and more reliable counting, automatic transplanting, better uniformity and the option for buffering in the peak seasons." 

"Together with one of the biggest cutting producers in the world, Visser developed a system which can create great efficiency in your nursery. The system consists of a newly developed patented transplanter and a compatible special patented strip and tray that complete the system and create a turnkey concept. Autostix is based on the newly developed Visser Strip. The cuttings that are being harvested from the mother stock, can directly be sticked in the Autostix." 



Autostix is a biodegradable product. The strip has been designed to enhance and guide the development of the root system. The strip can hold cuttings with different stem diameters, yet still positions the stems firmly without damaging the soft tissue. The strip is available in two types: one strip can hold 51 cuttings and the other can hold 34 cuttings. The system works best on 102 counts (either 51x2=102 or 34x3=102).



The cuttings can be shipped at a high density, yet still providing an air space for each individual stem, due to the design of the strip. This enhances quality in the process. The cuttings can be shipped efficiently to the nursery that will further process the cuttings to grow them.



Automation
The dedicated nursery can use Autostix to automatically transplant the cuttings. The strips go in the machine and the machine cuts off each cell and transplants both the biodegradable cell and the plant in the new plug, pot or tray. Because of the biodegradable character of the strip the cell will degrade over time.



Autostix opens the opportunity to transplant big and leafy plants without damaging the leafs with traditional grippers. The cutting device in the machine does not touch the leafs. The special gripper will pick up the plant by the cell and not ‘in’ the cell, as occurs in traditional systems.



This special transplanter has multiple infeeds for singulated strips. The machine can run both available strips, only by adjusting the settings on the user friendly Siemens touch screen. The production capacity is up to 10,000 cuttings per hour, per 6 head stripplanter machine. The machine can plant 3 different modules for mixed liners in a 50mm liner. For a very efficient process through the entire supply chain, the machine can also automatically plant labels in the strip.



AutoStix advantages

Peak seasons
AutoStix helps you to get the job done in the 10-12 weeks during peak season when millions of cuttings need to get stuck.

Counting
The strip makes counting cuttings easier. Workers can immediately see that they’ve got 34 or 51 cuttings in a strip. No short or overfilled bags.

Uniformity
Using Autostix provides you with an optimal uniformity of your product. First of all, a visual check during the loading of the strip is now very easy. By checking the different cuttings in the strip for uniform heights, a first uniformity and consistency check is in place. Then, later in the process when transplanting: each and every plant is being planted at the exact same depth, which enhances the uniform growth of your cuttings.

Buffering
Autostix provides many advantages besides automation. The system provides storability of the plants. Once the plants arrive at the grower, each strip can be positioned in a small layer of water. The stem will be in a film of water and the rest of the plant will stay dry. Plants can be stored like this over a specific period of time. This helps break the transplanting peaks at the grower.

Labour
The AutoStix machine removes the challenge of finding and training a workforce to stick the cuttings at the rooting stations where seasonal staff is more difficult to find than in offshore locations. Due to the further standardized process less labour is required.



With the 50 year anniversary comes the first time launch of the revolutionary cutting transplanting system ‘Autostix’!



Visser Open Days
When: Monday 12 June to Friday 16 June 2017
Where: Visser Headoffice – Mijlweg 18, ‘s-Gravendeel, The Netherlands
Program & registration: https://viscongroup.eu/plant-technology/