A Partnership in Forestry Innovation
“Working together to meet your Post-harvest needs”
For over 200 years, Christies Nurseries in Fochabers has been a cornerstone of the Scottish forestry industry. With 5th, 6th, and 7th generations actively involved in the family business, Christies proudly produces an astonishing 24 million trees annually, cementing its position as the largest privately owned nursery in the UK and the 5th oldest business registered in Scotland.
Christies Nurseries and Agropack Solutions – A Partnership in Forestry Innovation.
However, with a planned production increase to 30 million trees and ongoing post-Brexit labour shortages, the nursery faced a significant operational challenge. Historically, tree grading at Christies had been carried out manually. While mechanisation had been gradually introduced, it was clear that a more radical solution was needed to meet the growing demand.
From a Tractor to Transformation
Enter Agropack Solutions, initially visiting Christies with the intent of selling a tractor. A brief look at the nursery’s manual handling and grading operations sparked what would become a three-year collaboration to revolutionise their processes. The result? A bespoke, state-of-the-art £750,000 grading system, meticulously designed and manufactured on-site at our APS workshop in Moray.
Innovation in Action
The newly implemented grading system represents a significant leap forward for Christies Nurseries, addressing critical challenges while delivering remarkable improvements. Key benefits of the system include:
- Enhanced Efficiency: The pre-grading phase alone has boosted efficiency by an impressive 300%, a testament to the innovation driving this project.
- Improved Working Conditions:
- Reduced manual lifting and repetitive actions for employees, easing physical strain.
- Drastic reduction in dust levels within the grading shed, promoting a healthier environment.
- Minimised forklift use, ensuring safer operations around staff.
- Adaptation to COVID-19 space regulations in 2020, providing more comfortable and compliant working conditions.
- Superior Product Quality:
- Enhanced end-user satisfaction by removing excess soil and delivering a cleaner product.
- Sustainability:
- Eco-conscious design elements, including dust control and reduced soil waste, contribute to a greener workplace.
Productivity Redefined
The transformation didn’t stop there. Phase one of the project saw the introduction of four state-of-the-art graders, with plans underway to add six more, pushing capacity further to grade or count up to 250,000 trees daily. This leap in productivity ensures that Christies is well-prepared to meet their growing demand while maintaining their legendary standards.
A Success Story for the Future
The collaboration between Christies Nurseries and Agropack Solutions underscores the power of local innovation. From concept to execution, the project showcases the capabilities of APS to deliver advanced, bespoke solutions tailored to the unique needs of the forestry industry.
For Christies, these milestones mark not just a solution to present challenges, but a solid foundation for sustainable growth and operational excellence in the future.
This is what transformation looks like—innovation, commitment, and the collaboration of two heritage-rich Scottish businesses coming together to set a new standard for the industry.
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