Mechanical Banana Harvester

The world first mechanical banana harvester came about after a forum was held by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries to find a solution into many problems associated with manual harvesting.

Injuries to pickers’ backs and legs, from carrying bunches weighing up to 70 kilograms, was the most common problem. Severe cuts sustained from knives and leptospirosis, a potentially fatal virus caught from rat infestation in the fruit being other major concerns.

In 1998 Tom Johnston built the first prototype, which proved it could reach and cut a banana bunch. Being only a 2 tonne excavator though, it could not handle the weight and duly toppled over.

From there Tom went to Komatsu with his invention; they supplied a second-hand 4.5 ton excavator. The second prototype with modifications such as rubber tracks, extendable boom, upgraded hydraulics and grab modifications, proved mechanical harvesting would work.

In 2000 a third prototype of the Harvester was released at the Gold Coast World Banana Congress (Queensland Australia).

The Harvester had now proved beyond any doubt its capabilities of:-

• lifting work standards
• reducing injury rates,
• being far more time efficient & cost effective
• reducing fruit bruising.