Customer case study

Kwekerij Overgaag, located in Kwintsheul (formerly Van Vliet Paprika), utilises Gearbox's EasyX for the automatic sorting of bell peppers based on quality. Thanks to the use of Vision technology and an AI network, the company saves on labour and can deliver higher quality to its customer PEQ, says former owner of Van Vliet Kwekerijen, Alex van Vliet.

Kwekerij Overgaag, located in Kwinstheul, sorts around 30,000 kg of bell peppers per day. In the summer, the volume increases to 35,000 kg, says Alex van Vliet. His father started the nursery in the late 1960s, then on 1.7 hectares. Half a century later, the area has grown to 9.8 hectares, and since December 2025, the nursery has been taken over by Kwekerij Overgaag.

The Cadalora and Alzamora bell pepper varieties, both from Rijk Zwaan, are currently among the most productive red varieties. For me, production and quality are the key criteria. But I also look at the size of the fruit and how labour-friendly the crop is. That's also important these days," he says, bringing the conversation to the subject of labour.

Consistent quality

Sorting by quality is labour-intensive; damage caused by the Nezara bug can occur, especially in midsummer. This insect sucks the cells dry, resulting in colourless spots on the fruit, which means that the bell pepper is classified as grade 2. The EasyX can detect a wide range of external defects, such as mould, discolouration, spots, bruises and unevenness. The use of Vision technology significantly improves the accuracy of the sorting process, says Van Vliet. "This improves quality, enabling us to meet customer requirements."

Initial problems resolved

Gearbox integrated the EasyX into the new Taks supply system in the industrial hall. According to the grower, this went very well. "There are always teething problems at the beginning, but Gearbox solved them all neatly. And you also have to get used to using it yourself. There are lots of settings on the EasyX, and you can also vary the severity of the damage. We have set the system to detect open damage, aphid damage, leaves on the bell peppers and serious shape abnormalities." Everything is running satisfactorily, he says. "But there is still room for improvement; we are still learning."

‘Just give us a call’

Alex Van Vliet maintains close contact with Gearbox. "Sometimes you have a question. In the beginning, we sometimes had minor malfunctions. All you had to do was call, and they would log in remotely and solve the problem. I find that the people at Gearbox are very easy to reach when you need them."