Modernization of the production unit of an SME operating in the value chain of the food industry

SALAD TIME is an agri-food SME specialized in the packaging and export of vegetables. Located in Agadir, SALAD TIME is exports tomatoes from Morocco to European markets, offering the best quality and best practices in the supply chain. The packaging of tomatoes is currently done by an existing semi-automatic line including the following steps: washing, grading, weighing and packaging.

To better meet the needs of its customers, SALAD TIME has installed two new tomato packaging machines. Both machines are from INDUSER. The first machine ensures the automatic packaging of cherry tomatoes or round tomatoes in trays thanks to these associative weighers which are characterized by a fast and precise weighing, while the second allows the automatic packaging of cherry tomatoes in trays and buckets thanks to these associative weighers.

This project has allowed the company to automate the packaging process and increase the production capacity while minimizing energy consumption. With this installation, the company’s production capacity is now 2.7 tons of tomatoes per hour.

The new machines allow to operate in delicate processing conditions. During the packaging of tomatoes, handling errors lead to the generation of plastic waste. This new installation allows the automation of the packaging line and avoids the generation of plastic waste due to human errors. The investment allows the company to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 46.68 T CO2 eq per year compared to the basic line and to save about 81.60 MWh of energy.

Green Value Chain(GVC) in Morocco is an EBRD credit line that provides financing to local partner financial institutions for the financing of green investments by SMEs operating in value chains. Supported by the European Union, the Green Climate Fund(GCF), the Korea Technical Assistance and Cooperation Account (KTACA) and the EBRD’s Special Shareholders Fund, the facility helps improve the competitiveness of SMEs and their value chains through highly efficient green investments.