The UK’s leading developer of automated packing and palletising solutions has reported its best-ever month.

PACE Mechanical Handling, which has been working with farmers and packers since 1996 has revealed that it received orders worth a six-figure sum in February 2024.

“2024 has started very well indeed for us,” says PACE’s managing director, Nick Cesare. “We have seen considerable interest from people across the industry, from growers looking to improve their on-farm packing to larger factories keen to add capacity, reduce operating costs and increase efficiency.

“I think there are three driving forces behind our excellent start to the year. First, there’s a shortage of people looking for work in the sector, so automation is the only way to operate effectively. Two, people know that our systems are highly efficient, reliable and built to last. And, finally, the Improving Productivity grant round two from the government, which financially supported the use of robotic or automatic equipment to improve productivity and address labour shortages, has lowered the cost of capital expenditure.”

In particular, PACE has seen considerable interest in its new Stella Evolution system. The scalable line for on-farm packing features an Electra weigher capable of handling ten tonnes per hour, an In-bag Weigher designed to fill 10 to 25kg potato sacks, an auto sack placer and presenter, and a complete bag control system feeding a heavy-duty SMITSEN DS9C sewing head.