Automation, Sanitation, Water and Energy Saving: Tosca’s new washing center in Dublin, Ireland, is expected to be at the forefront of the latest technologies while respecting the environment. It is dedicated to cleaning recyclable plastic containers used for transporting food products (fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat, etc.) from production centers to mass distribution stores. The center has 5,000 packages per hour. Despite being so fast, only four people can handle the workload. The American company implemented this level of automation because of the difficulties in recruiting and retaining employees in this tense area of ​​Ireland. Once received on the boards, the folded bins are loaded onto conveyors and then stacked, inspected, washed, dried and stored without human intervention, which reduces the risk of contamination.

Presence sensors

The approximately 8,000 m² washing center was built with sustainability in mind. On the energy side, solar panels, LED lighting and other presence sensors ensure that power consumption is limited. The line is equipped with a centrifugal dryer, which consumes less energy than a heating system, while recycling water throughout the washing process. At the end of the cycle, each tank draws less than a gram of water.

With a turnover of 500 500 million, Tosca employs 2,000 people. The group, based in Atlanta, United States, acquired and strengthened Polymer Logistics and Contraload in 2019 and 2020. It claims to have 40 million containers between bins, boards and reusable pallet boxes. Tosca operates 58 car wash centers worldwide: 19 in North America and 39 in Europe.