Challenges faced by Nurseries

1

www.data-technologies.com Data Detection Technologies Ltd. 2012

Seed Counting Technology Challenges For Nurseries

Introduction

As seeds become more and more expensive, the

need to have seeds counted by the actual number

and not by an estimated weight value becomes

more and more critical.

For seed manufacturers, such a change

can save hundreds of thousands of dollars

every year without requiring any change in its

production process.

For plant nurseries, on the other side of

this equation, previously there was no way for

them to check whether the quantity of seeds

they purchased accurately matched the

amount of seeds delivered.

DATA Technologies’ counting machines are

based on an existing, advanced technology

that has now been adapted to meet new

standards in the seeds industry enabling both

seed manufacturers and plant nurseries to

conduct their transactions using exact

numbers rather than estimates.

2


Challenges Faced by Nurseries In the normal flow, nurseries purchase vast

amounts of seed from seed manufacturers,

sow and raise inventory, and ultimately sell

their end-products to customers, landscapers,

gardeners, etc. Amazingly enough, the seed

industry largely remains one that conducts

transactions by relying on estimated weights

rather than exact numbers.

When someone places an order with a seed

manufacturer, many of them will include a

certain percentage of overage to ensure

meeting the number specified in the order.

Nurseries are largely left to trust the seed

packaging process and either do not check

what they receive, or check with the same

inaccurate method.

Finally, if the nursery does discover a Problem,

typically it is during the sowing stage or after a

long delay, during which the seeds were in

storage. Returning to the seed manufacturer may

not be possible, and even if it is, there is no

guarantee that sufficient seed will be available to

counter any problem in the original delivery.

Industry Requirements Nurseries are tasked with processing thousands,

perhaps tens of thousands of seeds each season.

Any solution that would involve verifying the

exact number of seeds received from seed

manufacturers would need to be:

Extremely accurate

Cost-effective

Fast and easy-to-integrate

Scalable to accurately count large and small

quantities of seeds

3


Estimated Weight versus Exact

Count Following are examples of some of the issues

faced by nurseries that may arise as a result of

receiving seeds based on estimated weights, as is

currently very common in the

industry.

Receiving seeds from the seeds

supplier

65%- 85% of the plant’s selling price is typically

based on the price paid for the seed. This means

that the more accurate the seed control process

is, the higher the increase in profitability. The

economic risk to a nursery is very high. Like many

businesses, the nursery must balance stock on

hand against possible orders.

Unlike businesses that sell non-perishable items,

a nursery carries additional risks and therefore

must be even more diligent to keep minimal stock

on hand while still finding a way to be ready to

process any order that is received. Only by having an

accurate accounting can a nursery maximize its profits

and reach this goal.

Receiving seeds from growers

When seeds are received from growers, the

seeds usually are not packaged in their original

bags. If you want to know how many seeds are

actually in these bags, the most cost-effective

technology will enable you to count the seeds

using a method that reflects the actual number of

seeds.

Using the seed overage effectively

As previously explained, many seed manufacturers

package and sell their product based on an estimated

weight rather than an actual count. To offset the

possibility of not supplying at least the amount

ordered, some seed manufacturers add an additional

percentage.

On the nursery side, the inventory is run based

on the ordered amount and not the actual number

delivered. This overage is not used effectively to

against future orders. By counting the seeds when

they arrive, the inventory can be adjusted to an actual

number and the nursery can take advantage of this

extra profit margin. Future orders can be lower

because they will be based on the actual seeds on

hand, rather than based on an estimation.

Taking seeds from stock for sowing

When preparing seeds for sowing, it is more

efficient to properly count the number of seeds

you wish to sow rather than working with a whole

package and then bringing back unused seeds.

This is nearly impossible to accomplish when

working with estimations based on weight and

very simple and cost-effective when working with

a solution that counts small and large quantities of

seeds quickly and precisely.

Efficiency of the sowing process

When you transfer seeds in exact numbers to the

sowing department, you can track the efficiency of

the sowing process. For example, if the sowing

machine is not calibrated properly, it can sow

more than one seed in each hole. Knowing the

exact number of seeds you had at the start will

help you to easily track this process and determine if

there is any problem in the sowing process (or if the

problem was not having received the proper number

of seeds to begin with).

4


DATA Products for Nurseries

DATA Count S-JR

The DATA Count S-JR quickly and accurately

counts seeds as small as 0.7 mm, eliminating the

imprecision of weighing solutions to save you

money.

Designed for companies of all sizes, DATA Count

S-JR offers an efficient means of ensuring control.

It is an essential tool for manufacturers, breeders

and nurseries in the seed industry.

The device employs proprietary patented

technology.

Features Counts seeds of all shapes from 0.7 to 4 mm, at

speeds of up to 3,000 seeds per minute

Counts a pre-set number of seeds

Seeds can be poured directly into plastic bags or

a measuring cup

Bluetooth connectivity

Results can be transferred to PC software, Excel

spreadsheets or proprietary software

Compatible with Seiko label printer

Benefits

Delivers nearly 100% accuracy

Saves time and money

Controls stock through precise rather than

estimated counts Can quickly

Can Quickly separate a large bag of seeds into

smaller ones

Can be used to analyze thousand seeds weight

Enables reassignment of labor to more

complicated tasks

Simple to operate, with a user-friendly interface

Low maintenance and easy to clean Small

enough to use on any desk or worktop

Technical Description

Voltage: 100 / 240 VAC, 1 phase Frequency: 50/60 Hz Power consumption: 22 W Circuit breaker rate: Minimum 10 A slow blow Dimensions: 21×21×20 cm Weight: 5 KG

Average counting speed capabilities (in seconds)

Quantity

Seed type

50 Seeds

100 Seeds

1,000 Seeds

Carrot 5 7 45

Cherry 5 7 45

Tomato 5 7 45

Lettuce 7 12 50

Pepper 6 10 55

5


DATA Count S-25

DATA’s S-25 quickly and accurately counts seeds

as small as 1 mm up to 18 mm, eliminating the

imprecision of weighing solutions to save you

money.

The machine is designed to count large quantities

of seeds and is ideally suited to seed

manufacturers, traders and plant nurseries, all of

which need to count seeds of different sizes as

fast and as accurately as possible as part of their

daily production processes.

The S-25 is easy-to-use, easy-to-integrate into

automatic filling machines, and delivers an

unprecedented accuracy rate of nearly 100%!

Features Precise counting of all seed shapes, from 1 to 18

mm in size

Rapid counting capability. For example: 4,000

tomato seeds per minute

Can be incorporated in an automatic filling

machine

Counts a pre-set number of seeds

Air system protection on the detection unit

Operation by Touch panel PC

Fast emptying

No pre-calibration required

Benefits

Delivers nearly 100% accuracy

Saves time and money

Significantly more profitable than scale-reliant

packaging

Controls stock through precise rather than estimated counts

Can be used to analyze thousand seeds weight Simple to operate, with a user-friendly interface Low maintenance and easy to clean

Technical Description

Voltage: 115 / 230 VAC, 1 phase

Frequency: 50/60 Hz

Power consumption: 100 W

Circuit breaker rate: Minimum 10 A slow blow

Air connector: 6 mm, Air consumption:~ 1 L/min

Compressed air: 0.1 Bar (continuously during

operation)

Dimensions (cm): (W) 55 x (D) 45 x (H) 65

Hopper size: 1,000cc, 1 Liter

Weight: ± 25 Kg

Average counting speed capabilities

(in seconds)

Quantity

Seed type

50

Seeds

100

Seeds

1,000

Seeds 5,000 Seeds

Cherry 4 8 20 90

Tomato 5 12 20 95

Pepper 7 15 30 120

6


About DATA

DATA Detection Technologies develops, manufactures, and markets hi-tech counting and packaging systems. DATA’s innovative, real-time image processing technology provides unparalleled accuracy and speed. Thus far, DATA’s proprietary technology has been applied to the diamond, seed, and pharmaceutical industries DATA’s seed counting machines offer tremendous value to customers in many ways: • Savings from packaging accurate numbers of

seeds, fast and efficiently, and with reduced labor.

• Flexibility with high counting speed, including easy configuration and the ability to quickly change between many types of seeds.

• Reduced time from order to delivery, thus taking advantage of new business opportunities.

• Ability to store, retrieve, and export counting record data to improve inventory management and make the entire process more efficient.

DATA’s industrial counting machines are capable of packaging over 40 bags of 1,000 tomato seeds per minute thus offering, for the first time, a sustainable counting solution for large-scale industrial seed packaging. DATA’s core technology provides real-time image processing of multiple objects as they are free-falling together. It was developed by our multi-disciplinary R&D team, which includes experts in electro-optics, electronics, software and mechanical engineering. DATA’s counting and packaging machines are sold and distributed worldwide through a combination of our own salespeople and partnering distributors . Based in Jerusalem, DATA is a dynamic hi-tech company that sets new global standards in counting and packaging systems. Additional information can be found at www.data-technologies.com.

www.data-technologies.com

Data Detection Technologies

12 Hartom ST. (RAD Bldg.) Har Hotzvim

Jerusalem 97775, Israel

Tel: +972-73-2204444

Fax: +972-73-2204466

Contact us:

Tel: +972-73-2204422 / +972-73-2204488

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.data-technologies.com

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.data-technologies.com/