G&S Seedlings Testimonial
Williames Pty Ltd Rack Stacking Line

G&S Seedlings were looking to invest in automation to improve the operation of our Nowergup nursery. The important factors for us to consider in the commercial justification of the project were:

• Reduced labour availability makes introducing automation into the nursery vital to allow the future expansion of the business
• The nursery had to be upgraded to allow the potential to produce a higher output in the future
• The nursery had to be adapted to utilise the stackable racks which was the first stage of the nursery automation project
• The automation project must give the benefit of controlling costs.

G&S Seedlings had already moved to incorporate the Williames stackable Racks into the nursery as part of a four stage expansion to allow flexibility within the nursery. We decided that an automation system was required to allow the racks to be automatically loaded with trays directly from the Williames Seeding Line and sent to the nursery to be set out. After discussions between the two companies to decide on the concept, G&S Seedlings commissioned Williames Pty Ltd to design, manufacture, supply, install and commission a Rack De-stacking, Tray Loading and Stacking System for the Nowergup Nursery.
Conceptual discussions commenced in March 2010 with the initial Layout Drawings being presented in April 2010. The design of the system was finalised and accepted in August 2010, and an order placed with Williames Pty Ltd. The system was commissioned by Williames Pty Ltd technicians and accepted by G&S Seedlings in February 2011. All through the project Williames worked closely with G&S Seedlings to ensure that the project ran smoothly, and kept G&S informed of the project's progress at all times.

The success of the project was demonstrated by the reduction in labour required to lay out the racks being reduced from 8 people to 2 people, and from 4 tractors to 2 forklifts.
In summary Williames Pty Ltd demonstrated a professional and flexible approach to the project, working closely with G&S Seedlings in a partnership to achieve the outcome of a successful project, delivered on time and within budget. They showed a depth of understanding of the requirements of automation in a nursery and the ability to empathise with a clients-vision. The success of the project has been demonstrated by the subsequent ordering of a second closely related system for de-stacking, washing racks and re-stacking again for storage.

Yours Sincerely,
Glenn McKay

HVP Plantations completed the construction of its new container production facility in 2010; the development had the following key objectives

• Be financially accretive to HVP’s Long Term Plan;
• Provide environmental benefits through the reduction in chemical and water use.
• Provide health and safety benefits through improved working conditions and a reduction in manual handling.
• Improve site productivity and plant survival in the field;
• Resolve current plant production issues, thereby reducing existing nursery risk.
• Provide for further expansion or conversion if appropriate in the future.
• Design and construction was to incorporate best practices for Eucalyptus and Pinus radiata seedling propagation and also propagation of Pinus radiata cuttings harvested from hedge rows.

Fundamentally the propagation system needed to cater for trays that were to be supported on growing frames that could be moved along on transport network via roller benches.
The product flow needed to be in a unidirectional rectangular pattern from a loading point at a head house then transferred through the greenhouse and shade house followed by transfer to outdoor growing area then too a preparation area for bulking up and despatch.

To achieve these outcomes HVP utilised the skills and experience of key industry groups one of those being Williames Pty Ltd who were involved with the project from the planning stage through to completion.
Their brief was too ensure that all components of the proposed nursery development would fit together correctly to provide a functional plant nursery facility allowing HVP to maximise desired objectives of appropriate supply quantities, quality and economics.

Williames Pty Ltd provided their technical expertise in the development, manufacture and installation of:-

• material handling systems for the plants via the post and rail transport system
• manufacture and supply of growing frames
• mixing of soil media
• the key sowing line component.

As the project proceeded there was an integration of the functions of the
Williames Pty Ltd team with those of HVP personnel involved in the project. This
ensured that quality decisions were made and that HVP was kept informed and
involved in matters relevant to successful completion.

Williames Pty Ltd were excellent in achieving this objective of working closely with HVP nursery management to ensure stated objectives were realised within budget.

From HVP’s perspective Williames Pty Ltd are well experienced in the design of containerised seedling nursery production systems and this experience was merged with our local in-depth knowledge of the growing conditions employed and prevailing at our Gelliondale site to achieve a successful outcome.

In summary, Williames Pty Ltd were both professional and flexible in their approach to the development, design issues were resolved in a timely manner and in all cases for the better.

HVP’s nursery is being viewed as a world class development which has allowed us to achieve significant productivity gains and out the gate plant yields in our first and now second years of production.

Christopher Barclay, Nursery Manager