Fruit Company Bins

Company Name: Mildura Fruit Company (MFC)

Industry: Fruit Manufacturing

Location: Mildura Australia

Background:
Mildura Fruit Company (MFC) began operation over 100 years ago as the Mildura Co-operative Fruit Company. Since then, we have grown to become one of Australia’s largest packer and exporter of fresh citrus.
Decades of growing, packing and marketing experience have equipped us to be the very best at what we do. Our world-class packing facility is able to pack nearly 4500 cartons per hour.
MFC packs and markets a full range of fruit from more than 120 growers in the horticultural regions of Australia to destinations around the world. The market-leading information we provide to our growers allow the quality of the fruit that we ship to be enhanced.
Our paralleled experience in the industry has enabled us to diversify from marketing solely citrus, to becoming a preeminent exporter of a wide range of fruits.

Challenge
MFC faced significant issues with bin tracking. The company’s existing labels were prone to wear and tear, leading to frequent replacements and difficulty in tracking product movement. Additionally, the harsh industrial environment, including exposure to chemicals and extreme temperatures, was causing conventional labels to deteriorate quickly.

Objective
The primary objective was to find a durable and long-lasting labelling solution that could withstand the tough conditions of the manufacturing environment. The solution needed to:

Product Used: Anodised Aluminium Labels

Specifications:
Material: 0.5mm gauge anodised aluminium
Durability: Designed to last 10+ years in external environments
Customisation: Embedded text, logos, barcodes
Size: 75mm x 25mm with radius corners
Mounting Options: 3M 468 permanent adhesive or optional mounting holes

Implementation:
1.Consultation: Worked closely with MFC to understand their specific requirements and environmental conditions.
2.Design: Customised labels with essential information, including barcodes & 12 Digit Numbering, embedded into the anodic layer to ensure durability.
3.Deployment: anodised aluminium labels across all fruit bins. Labels were applied using 3M 468 permanent adhesive for robust attachment and some fitted with rivets.

Improved Durability:
The anodised aluminium labels withstood harsh chemicals and extreme temperatures, significantly reducing the frequency of replacements.
Enhanced resistance to scratching and fading ensured that critical information remained legible and intact.

Enhanced Asset Management:
- The embedded barcodes and logos facilitated accurate and efficient asset tracking, leading to better inventory management.

Cost Savings:
Reduced costs associated with label replacements and maintenance due to the long-lasting nature of the anodised aluminium labels.
Decreased downtime and improved operational efficiency through reliable produce tracking.

Client Feedback:
Switching to anodised aluminium labels has been a game-changer. The labels have performed exceptionally well under tough conditions, and we have seen significant improvements in our fruit management processes. We highly recommend this solution for any company facing similar challenges.

Conclusion
The implementation of anodised aluminium labels provided MFC with a durable, cost-effective solution for their asset management challenges. The successful deployment demonstrates the effectiveness of anodised aluminium labels in industrial applications where longevity and resilience are critical.