Agriculture Crates, Aquaculture Crates, and Custom Injection-Moulded HDPE Containers for Mechanized and Automated Specialty Farming

In 2023, a USDA Economic Research Service report cited a 4.4% year-over-year increase in agricultural labor costs. Over 50% of specialty crop producers cite the availability and cost of labor as their main challenge. This reality is undoubtedly a driving factor behind farmers adopting new technology and improving efficiency wherever possible [1]. However, it is niche, small-scale sectors like apiculture and aquaculture that are particularly affected by rising labor and material costs due to their reliance on manual processes and traditional materials. Larger operations benefit from economies of scale, whereas small businesses may not always be able to justify investing in newer technologies. To guarantee ROI on expenditures, these niche sectors are showing a rising demand for durable, specialized farming containers, especially when paired with newly adopted mechanized or automated machinery. Traditional processes that employ traditional materials like wood and metal are being phased out by custom-engineered machinery, which requires precise and reliable components.

Why Traditional Materials Fall Short

Materials like wood and metal tend to yield a greater instance of error when subjected to the rigors of mechanized or automated processes. Wooden frames and crates will warp or crack with increased temperature, impact, and moisture, while metal components are particularly vulnerable to corrosion, especially in saltwater conditions common to shellfish aquaculture. Deteriorating and misshapen farming containers are not an option for high-precision machinery. Automated robotic arms performing farming activities. Tags: Agricultural totes, Agricultural bins, Farm storage bins, Bulk agricultural containers, Heavy-duty farm totes, Reusable agricultural bins, Stackable agricultural totes for produce, Food-grade farm storage bins, Plastic totes for agricultural use, Ventilated harvest bins for farming, Durable bulk bins for fruits and vegetables, FDA-approved agricultural containers, Ventilated fruit bins for harvesting, Farm crates for produce transport, Agricultural storage solutions, Sustainable farm packaging, Buy agricultural totes near me, Wholesale farm bins for sale, Best bins for farming operations, Agricultural storage suppliers USA, Farm storage totes, Heavy-duty agricultural containers, Bulk farm produce bins, Reusable field totes, Agricultural transport bins, Large farm storage totes, Plastic farming bins, Harvest totes for farms, Ventilated fruit bins, Stackable vegetable bins, Orchard harvest crates, Vineyard harvest bins, Grape harvesting totes, Food-safe produce bins, Plastic agricultural totes, Wooden farm crates, Metal agricultural bins, Collapsible farm totes, Injection-molded produce bins, HDPE farm storage bins, Livestock feed storage bins, Agricultural transport containers, Farm seed storage bins, Dairy farm storage solutions, Poultry farm plastic totes, Grain storage containers for farms, Recyclable farm totes, Sustainable agricultural bins, Eco-friendly produce storage containers, BPA-free farm totes, Reusable farm produce bins, Bulk purchase agricultural bins, Wholesale farm totes, Commercial harvest crates, Industrial farming storage bins, Large-capacity farm bins for sale, Where to buy farm totes, Agricultural bins supplier near me, Best farm totes for harvest, Affordable agricultural containers.A 2021 study about handling failures by grip-and-pick robotic arms emphasizes the importance of precise edges and positioning. This precision can only be achieved when containers are designed specifically for the machine and will reliably maintain their shape and alignment [2]. For these reasons and more, here at Thunderbird Plastics, we use High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) for our agriculture and aquaculture containers due to its remarkable mechanical properties. With a tensile strength of approximately 38 MPa, a modulus of elasticity of 1000-1400 MPa, resistance to impact, and resistance to fluctuating temperatures, our engineers have decided that these characteristics make HDPE the most suitable material for our products [3].

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The Fresh Pack Crate from Thunderbird Plastics

These comparisons show why HDPE is favored in automated settings due to durability and precise moulding ability [6]. For farmers looking for a single-use option that is compatible with mechanized and automated machinery, our Fresh Pack Crate is a good option because it is highly affordable, more durable, and more precise than cardboard. For farmers looking not willing to compromise on environmental sustainability, HDPE is highly recyclable at the end of the product’s life, just like cardboard.

Apiculture: Beekeeping Beyond Wooden HivesA digital-looking beehive hexagon background with bees. Tags: Agricultural totes, Agricultural bins, Farm storage bins, Bulk agricultural containers, Heavy-duty farm totes, Reusable agricultural bins, Stackable agricultural totes for produce, Food-grade farm storage bins, Plastic totes for agricultural use, Ventilated harvest bins for farming, Durable bulk bins for fruits and vegetables, FDA-approved agricultural containers, Ventilated fruit bins for harvesting, Farm crates for produce transport, Agricultural storage solutions, Sustainable farm packaging, Buy agricultural totes near me, Wholesale farm bins for sale, Best bins for farming operations, Agricultural storage suppliers USA, Farm storage totes, Heavy-duty agricultural containers, Bulk farm produce bins, Reusable field totes, Agricultural transport bins, Large farm storage totes, Plastic farming bins, Harvest totes for farms, Ventilated fruit bins, Stackable vegetable bins, Orchard harvest crates, Vineyard harvest bins, Grape harvesting totes, Food-safe produce bins, Plastic agricultural totes, Wooden farm crates, Metal agricultural bins, Collapsible farm totes, Injection-molded produce bins, HDPE farm storage bins, Livestock feed storage bins, Agricultural transport containers, Farm seed storage bins, Dairy farm storage solutions, Poultry farm plastic totes, Grain storage containers for farms, Recyclable farm totes, Sustainable agricultural bins, Eco-friendly produce storage containers, BPA-free farm totes, Reusable farm produce bins, Bulk purchase agricultural bins, Wholesale farm totes, Commercial harvest crates, Industrial farming storage bins, Large-capacity farm bins for sale, Where to buy farm totes, Agricultural bins supplier near me, Best farm totes for harvest, Affordable agricultural containers.

Emerging smart beehive technology integrates sensors in an IoT to allow AI to analyze data likehive weight, sound and vibration, and colony activity to manage factors like temperature and humidity.With technology monitoring these important factors, the cost of labor is reduced. However, to maximize ROI and minimize downtime, traditional beekeeping components like hive bodies, frames, and feeders can be precision-moulded using HDPE [7].

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The SuperTray Shellfish Grow-Out System

Shellfish Farming Innovations

In the shellfish and aquaculture farming sector, mechanized and automated systems sort, clean, grade, feed, and package shellfish.Aquaculture and shellfish grow-out systems must be made from durable materials that can withstand fluctuating temperatures and saltwater [8]. This is especially true when further subjected to the mechanical strains of mechanized and automated machinery. For continued reliability in marine environments, HDPE injection-moulded shellfish and aquaculture containers perform best. The SuperTray shellfish grow-out system at Thunderbird Plastics is an incredible option for the sustainability and tech-minded aquaculture professional.

The Path Forward: Custom Moulded Solutions

Three stackable harvest crates stacked on top of each other in yellow, grey, and blue.

The Stackable Harvest Crate from Thunderbird Plastics

Partnering with our team at Thunderbird Plastics to design custom HDPE plastic containers is the key to ensuring precision and speed in mechanized and automated farming operations. However, some of our existing HDPE injection-molded farming supplies such as the Stackable Harvest Crate, are machine-ready and can replace traditional materials. Call us at 888-77T-BIRD or email us at info@thunderbirdplastics.com to discuss how we can customize components for your non-traditional farming operations.

References

USDA Economic Research Service (2023). U.S. Agriculture Labor Expenses Forecast to Increase More Than 4 Percent in 2023. Retrieved from https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2023/july/u-s-agriculture-labor-expenses-forecast-to-increase-more-than-4-percent-in-2023

Wang, W., et al. (2021). Robotic Automation of Food Handling: A Review of Robotic Systems and Their Applications in the Food Industry. Frontiers in Neurorobotics. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbot.2021.570507

Tiange Zhu, Xiaolin Li, Xiuying Zhao, Xi Zhang, Yonglai Lu, Liqun Zhang (2022). Stress-strain Behavior and Corresponding Crystalline Structures of Four Types of Polyethylene Under a Wide Range of Strain Rates. Polymer Testing, Volume 106, Article 107460. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2022.107460

AGRU America (n.d.). HDPE Pipes in Agriculture. Retrieved from https://agruamerica.com/hdpe-pipes-in-agriculture

Direct Plastics (n.d.). HDPE Data Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.directplastics.co.uk/pdf/datasheets/HDPE%20Data%20Sheet.pdf

P. D. Andini et al. (2011). Plastic Waste Management and the Need for Recycling in the Food Industry. Waste Management, 31(4), 840-850. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319610311002729

Honest Bee Ltd. (n.d.). Are Plastic Beehives Any Good? Retrieved from https://honestbeeltd.com/faqs/are-plastic-beehives-any-good

UMCES (2023). Research Team Receives $10M to Transform Shellfish Farming with Smart Technology. Retrieved from https://www.umces.edu/news/research-team-receives-10m-to-transform-shellfish-farming-with-smart-technology/