Project

From Concept to Reality

Windmill Farms chooses scale and innovation with GTL
Mushroom Cultivation
Klant
Windmill Farms Inc.
Locatie
Port Perry, Ontario, Canada
Periode
2018 - 2023
Projecttype
Turn-key

Background

Windmill Farms Inc. is an established player in the Canadian mushroom industry. Since 2008, we have worked closely with this client. Over the years, we have built a strong relationship based on mutual trust and proven reliability.

Project Development

  • 2018: Construction of 17 growing rooms, traditionally harvested. These rooms are intended to be used solely as nursery rooms in the future.
  • 2019: Implementation of 2 tilt racks with belt system as a pilot project to validate the concept. Successful results formed the basis for further expansion.
  • 2022: Commissioned for 18 harvesting rooms with belt system, including a fully automated packaging line. An existing building from 2018 was expanded and modified for this purpose.
  • 2023: Delivery and start-up: no less than 222 containers of materials shipped to Canada.
"At Windmill Farms, we demonstrated the power of working together based on trust. With concept drawings and pilot setups, we didn’t just present an idea, we built a fully future-proof system."
Ruud Keunen
Commercial Director

Tilt Racks and Belt System: Smarter Harvesting

The biggest innovation lies in combining tilt racks with a belt system and packaging automation:

Tilt Racks
Instead of fixed racks, the growing beds are equipped with a tilting mechanism. This allows the bed to be positioned optimally for harvesting, resulting in less physical strain, higher speed, and improved ergonomics for workers.

Belt System
Immediately after picking, mushrooms are transported out of the growing room via a conveyor system. This saves time and eliminates unnecessary handling. The mushrooms are placed directly onto the belt, which carries them straight to the packaging area.

This combination greatly increases labor efficiency. Instead of numerous manual tasks inside the growing room, most of the process is moved outside, where the automated packaging line completes the work.

Innovation and Conviction

The decision to pursue this large-scale project was driven by GTL’s approach:

  • We presented a conceptual packaging solution early in the process.
  • Concept drawings and pilot setups demonstrated the added value to the client.
  • This built the trust necessary to implement Canada’s first fully automated packaging line on this scale.

Results

  • The project has been successfully commissioned and is operating to satisfaction.
  • Over 200 tons of mushrooms per week are produced and processed efficiently.
  • The combination of tilt rooms, belt system, and automated packaging delivers high yields and labor savings.
  • Windmill Farms sees GTL as a reliable partner that not only builds, but also innovates and contributes to the future of the sector.