Tasmanian firm chooses Tong for Onion Grading

When one of Tasmania’s largest agricultural firms, Field Fresh Tasmania, decided to invest in new equipment to improve production speed and quality of their cream gold and red onions, their search led them across the globe to Lincolnshire-based Tong Engineering.

Field Fresh Tasmania, part of one of Australia’s oldest agricultural company’s Webster Ltd, produces some of the finest onions in the world. Sourced from a growing environment with unparalleled natural advantages, Field Fresh Tasmania onions are sought by the most discerning markets of Europe, Asia and Australia. Field Fresh Tasmania prides itself as a leading horticultural specialist in the global food industry and has been exporting its onions to Northern Hemisphere markets for nearly forty years..

In late 2013, the company decided to upgrade its machinery and invest in new packhouse equipment to complement the high growing standards it keeps. The solution was delivered by Tong Engineering in the form of a number of coil cleaners and a series of EasyGrade screen graders, combined to offer a complete onion grading system.

Tong manufactured three coil cleaners at the infeed to the system prior to new onion topping equipment. Onions are then fed onto two rows of eight EasyGrade screen sizing modules, with common grade conveyors, allowing Field Fresh Tasmania to achieve a very high throughput and nine different grades of onions. The two rows of Tong’s market leading EasyGrade screen modules, totalling sixteen units, is one of the largest orders for EasyGrade screen graders within one system, supplied by Tong. The screens were manufactured to a bespoke order for Field Fresh Tasmania, who visited the site in Spilsby during production. The order was then shipped from Spilsby in Lincolnshire to Devonport in Tasmania and installed in early January, just in time for harvest.

Barry Hughes, Field Fresh Tasmania’s Engineering Manager said: “After meeting with Tong’s Australasian dealer, Dobmac Machinery, we knew that Tong had the right equipment for our needs.

“It is of paramount importance that the journey of the onion from field to kitchen is as smooth as possible, with a focus on gentle handling. Tong’s handling lines have enabled us to increase production while taking great care of our product.”

Simon Lee, Sales Manager at Tong commented: “It was great to work with a client from as far away as Tasmania and ensure the smooth delivery of their equipment within a very quick lead time to meet their requirements.

“No two customers’ needs are ever the same – that’s why we’re always working hard to make sure each client gets the solution that meets their exacting needs, whether they are in the UK or further afield. The fact that the Easy Grade machinery was the biggest order of its kind yet and was shipped to the other side of the world is testament to that. With the knowledge and expertise of our Australasian dealer, Dobmac machinery, Field Fresh can rest assured that their investment in a high quality UK made system comes complete with local support should they need it.”

For more information about Tong’s specialist grading equipment, click here or call 01790 752771 and speak to one of the team.