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Interko Overhauls RipePilot Data Capability
The future-proofing digital upgrade means fruit ripeners can access even more data for tighter control of the ripening cycle at lower cost.
Interko, the global leader for the design, manufacture and installation of state-of-the-art fresh fruit ripening rooms, has developed a fully digital data network for its automatic ripening control system RipePilot as global demand grows for the smart solution.
A fundamental change, the digital upgrade means additional, accurate data can be received from sensors within the ripening room and analysed by RipePilot during the ripening cycle, giving greater visibility and control of the end product.
The move to a fully digital set-up ultimately enables better decision making for improved fruit quality. Plus with all sensors in the ripening room connected via a single digital data cable, the installation, maintenance, and servicing processes are quicker and easier, translating into lower costs.
Devised by Interko and following four years of successful customer testing, the digital upgrade lays the foundation for further important advances to the RipePilot sensor-based ripening control programme.
Chris Maat, Interko’s Managing Director/Partner, explains: “As a manufacturer, Interko is taking a highly integrated approach to our ripening solutions. By developing a fully digital data network to feed greater information to RipePilot we are future-proofing this already invaluable solution."
Maat continues: “Every business wants access to more and more data to improve their processes, decision making, and results. With this upgrade, RipePilot can now receive expansive, complex, and consistent datasets to provide a more accurate picture of what’s happening inside the ripening room.
“Most exciting is the future potential to introduce even more sensors within the ripening room – now that we have the ability to feed greater datasets to RipePilot via a single digital cable – for yet more tighter control over the ripening process.”
Demand Remains High For This Game-Changing Solution
RipePilot was launched at the end of 2022 to automatically optimise the ripening cycle of fruit. The system is designed to deliver perfect quality fruit and shelf-life, with minimal product loss and lower energy consumption.
The technology has proved extremely popular in enabling operators to go one step further in automating, monitoring, and tracing their ripening process, all with the reassurance of Interko’s market-exclusive fail-safe mode.
To date, RipePilot is used in more than 100 different ripening sites, and well over 300 ripening rooms installed by Interko. RipePilot can be pre-fitted or retrofitted within Interko’s Ultimo, Optimo, Axesso, and Mobilo rooms.
Demand continues to remain high. Already in 2026 Interko is busy installing RipePilot in 50 ripening rooms for one customer in the UK. Of that total, 12 rooms are being built from scratch with RipePilot integrated, while 38 rooms are being retrofitted with the solution.
Maat comments: “Now a mainstay product within the Interko ripening solutions range, RipePilot continues to offer existing and new customers the easiest, most economic way of optimising their fruit ripening. We are really pleased with the success of this product and its future potential.”
Free Consultations during Fruit Logistica 2026
With energy and operational efficiency still critical for fresh produce businesses this year, Interko is offering complimentary consultations at Fruit Logistica 2026 for fruit ripeners, retailers, importers, and distributors.
The Dutch team of experts will share ideas, answer questions, and explore practical ways to improve fruit quality during ripening, pre-cooling, or de-greening, while keeping energy use and operational costs at a minimum.
Interko will exhibit at the annual trade show on 4-6 February in its usual spot of Hall 1.2, Stand D-40, together with Fresh Produce Instruments.
Chris Maat (Managing Director/Partner), Anna Zegveld (Sales Director), Narcís Guinart (Product Manager), Robert Westerveld (Product Manager), and Nova Smink (Junior Sales) will be available to meet with visitors during the three-day show in Berlin.
• Interko remains the world’s foremost expert in fresh fruit ripening technology, and is the longest-serving ripening room provider on the market.
• Interko’s range of ripening rooms – Ultimo, Optimo, Axesso and Mobilo – are cleverly designed to accommodate operators of any size in any location worldwide.
• Energy-efficiency is always at the heart of Interko’s innovations. Interko technology uses no more energy than necessary to lower operating costs and raise profitability.
• Interko rooms can be used at the source or in the end market for ripening numerous fruits, including: bananas, avocados, mangoes, papayas, pears, apricots, peaches, kiwifruit and tomatoes.
• Interko rooms can also perform citrus de-greening for lemons and oranges.
• Interko rooms can pre-cool fruits, including tropicals and citrus.
ABOUT INTERKO
Interko is the global leader for the design, manufacture and installation of cost-effective, high-quality and low-maintenance ripening rooms for fresh fruit, and cooling systems for the horticulture sector. Founded nearly 60 years ago in the Netherlands, Interko develops precise, advanced and energy-efficient systems that are built to last. Since its creation, Interko has installed over 7,000 ripening rooms for bananas, avocados, mangoes, papayas and tomatoes – the earliest of which are still in operation and performing well today. Every year Interko installs around 200 ripening rooms.
For more information, visit: www.interko.com
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