The Valley De Lier automates harvest logistics with M-Track system

View Valley Nursery, one of The Valley’ s Lierse branches and part of Growers United, faced a logistical challenge after expanding their greenhouse. Together with Metazet, they found the most efficient and cost-effective solution: switching to the induction-guided M-Track system.

From expansion to future-proof logistics
The View Valley location in De Lier was working with a chain conveyor system from Metazet until the previous season. This system was literally the connecting link between two adjacent greenhouses. Harvest carts found their way along the chain and made the crossing from one greenhouse to the other at the back of the greenhouse.

The expansion with a third greenhouse towards the Kreek Ridge behind it created a new logistical challenge: how to efficiently connect this section of the greenhouse to the existing processing area? Initially, an expansion of the existing chain conveyor system was considered, but in consultation with Metazet’s experts, a completely new, induction-guided M-Track system turned out to be a better solution. Because Metazet supplies both chain conveyor systems and induction systems, it was possible to quickly switch to this fully automatic and future-proof variant.

How does the M-Track system work and what adjustments were needed?
The M-Track system uses an induction wire embedded in the concrete paths. Tractors follow this wire and are automatically directed to the specified destination. This ensures that the harvest carts at View Valley are transported unmanned from the unloading unit in the processing area to the correct greenhouse and then return full.

For the system to function optimally within the limited space, some modifications were necessary. A control system was installed in the barn that acts as a kind of traffic controller: it automatically registers when a train with harvest wagons arrives at a junction and determines which one may proceed first. This prevents congestion and keeps traffic flowing smoothly. The routing of the induction wire is also adjusted accordingly, allowing the M-Tracks to maneuver smoothly even in narrow passages.

Sustainable reuse of existing components
When transitioning to a new system, all components of a previous system usually have to make way for a new system, often out of necessity. Because View Valley chose a different variant of one of the Metazet systems, many components could be reused. For example, with the switch to the M-Track system they also had to switch to new harvesting carts but by cleverly constructing these harvest carts it was possible to transfer the entire superstructure of the existing chain track harvesting carts.

Also in the processing area, where harvested product is pushed off, weighed and palletized, the necessary modifications were made by Next Handling Solutions so that the existing machine line became suitable for fully automatic feeding of M-Tracks with full Harvest carts behind them.

This text previously appeared in Vegetable News dated March 28, 2025