Packing Robot: the Finishing Touch of Swift Harvest
The Challenge
Traditionally, harvesting mushrooms has been one of the most labour-intensive steps in the chain. But packing still involves a great deal of manual work too: mushrooms are sorted, weighed, trimmed where needed, and placed into punnets. Our packing stations with tipper have supported growers well in this process for years.
At the same time, demand keeps growing for less dependence on labour, more consistent quality, and higher capacity. That’s why GTL has taken the next step: a new, in-house developed packing solution that automates the process further and is prepared for the future, including a possible transition to the Swift Harvest concept.
The Concept
The packing robot is GTL’s in-house developed successor to the traditional packing station. Where the packing station with tipper still relied on manual transfer, the packing robot takes over this step fully automatically.
Within Swift Harvest, the packing robot forms the final, crucial link: the point where the harvested mushroom becomes a ready-to-sell product. Smart vision technology means the robot doesn’t have to wait until every product is perfectly positioned. Instead, it continuously determines for itself which mushroom should be handled next, what condition it’s in, and which packaging it belongs in.
How It Works
After harvesting, the mushrooms lie on the tray just as they grew on the growing bed. From that point, the packing robot takes over, guided by two vision boxes that together determine where each mushroom ends up.
- The first vision box is mounted in the robot’s arm and determines which mushroom can best be picked up next.
- During the flight to the punnet, the mushroom passes a second vision box. Here, quality, size, and estimated weight are determined, and it’s assessed whether the stem needs trimming.
- Based on that data, the robot determines which punnet or crate the mushroom goes into.
- Where needed, the stem is trimmed on the spot, just before the mushroom lands in the packaging.
Video
The concept
Key Benefits
Less dependent on labour
The packing robot takes over manual packing work, precisely where labour shortages are felt most.
More consistent quality
Because the product is inspected and packed in a controlled way, the result is more uniform with fewer damaged mushrooms.
Simpler automation
Because the mushrooms arrive at the robot via a single controlled flow, it can efficiently recognise, pick up, and pack them — even when they are lying randomly on the tray.
Future-proof
The packing robot is built as a replacement for the packing station with tipper, and is prepared for the next step in automation.
Widely applicable
In addition to its role within Swift Harvest, the packing robot can also be used independently by any grower working with GTL’s blue conveyor belt system.
Built for the Future
Since 1 July 2026, the first packing robot has been running successfully at a customer’s site. The current packing robot works with GTL’s blue belt system — patented in several respects. As described above, the next step in development goes even further: a version of the robot that picks mushrooms directly from the growing film, without the intervention of the blue belts, and places them straight into the correct punnet in the correct way. With this, GTL continues to build a packing process that becomes simpler, faster, and less labour-dependent, step by step.
Swift Harvest is an in-house development by GTL, resulting from years of innovation and engineering. Patent applications are currently pending for several components of the system.