Tong announces next-level box handling automation in strategic partnership with VHM

Tong Engineering, a leading UK manufacturer of vegetable handling solutions, has announced a new strategic partnership with VHM Machinery, a manufacturer of high-performance box and big bag handling systems in the Netherlands.

The new partnership will see Tong offer VHM's forward-thinking box-handling solutions across the UK. It is an exciting step in Tong’s continuous focus on bringing the latest technologies to the vegetable handling industry, partnering with best-in-class manufacturers to supply fully integrated solutions from field to pack.

Charlie Rich, Business Development Director at Tong:

"We are very proud to welcome VHM into our network of partnerships. By integrating their fully-automated box and bag handling technology, we are strengthening our proven filling and tipping range, enabling us to achieve unmatched solutions in terms of design, technology, throughput and labour-efficiency. So, whether our customers are looking for standalone box filling equipment or a complete turnkey solution, we can deliver the most advanced systems on the market."

VHM’s sophisticated equipment takes box and bag handling and automation to the next level. From a flexible feed and discharge of boxes to and from the production process to completely automatic stacking and de-stacking of boxes at either end of the handling process, VHM equipment is designed to provide continuous, high-capacity box handling solutions that dramatically reduce or even eliminate the need for forklifts. The company’s innovative systems ensure the right boxes are in the right place at impressive throughputs.

Charlie Rich:

"With a continued focus amongst vegetable producers to reduce costs and labour requirements, Tong is dedicated to designing progressive handling facilities that significantly reduce the reliance on the workforce through automation."

"VHM’s focus on achieving more output with less people, aligns perfectly with our vision, making them the ideal partner to work with in making our customer’s handling processes safer, smarter and faster, yet more relaxed."

Rik Van Hees, Owner of VHM:

"We are very pleased to announce our new collaboration with Tong, and are delighted that a UK manufacturer known for innovation and robust engineering will be representing our advanced technology in the UK. I am confident that together we can deliver seamless end-to-end box and bag handling solutions designed to meet the unique needs of the UK vegetable handling industry, helping to make their businesses thrive."

The teams at Tong and VHM are looking forward to discussing the new partnership with customers on-site and at upcoming industry events in 2024 and 2025.

Charlie Rich:

"We have already proposed a number of box handling solutions combining Tong and VHM equipment to customers in the UK, and the labour-saving benefits alone are set to transform the post-harvest handling process considerably. It’s a very exciting prospect that we can work alongside VHM’s UK representative Bas Van Dijke, to offer UK vegetable producers such streamlined systems that maximise throughput and productivity; letting the machines do the work, so they don’t have to."