6 reasons to rent a crate washing machine or tray washing machine

Since the outset, Limex has combined sales of washing machines with washing machine rentals. For example, renting a tray washer can be an excellent alternative when a large investment is not desirable, or for customers dealing in seasonal products such as strawberries, young plants, or asparagus. In some cases, customers also want to try out a washer before deciding to purchase one.

Knowledge and expertise

Senior account manager Gertie Rongen and sales engineer Bart Bovee come into contact with a wide range of questions concerning rentals of our washing machines every day. Gertie has been working at Limex since 1999. With her experience, from purchasing to sales within Limex, and her knowledge of every aspect of the company, she knows the machines inside out. She is particularly interested in the technical side of the business, so she feels right at home among the engineers at Limex. So does Bart, who has a wealth of technical experience. He started out as a machinist, then progressed to the position of workshop manager. Since 2019, he has been applying his technical knowledge to the sale of Limex washing machines. With their skills and expertise in different areas of the same field, Gertie and Bart are the perfect people to tell you all about the ins and outs of renting Limex washing machines.

Gertie: “I’ve a real passion for this business! Over the years, we’ve learned so much at Limex about different types of crops. Thanks to testing and innovation, we work in a dynamic field where every day is different. ”

6 reasons to rent a crate washer or tray washer

1. Temporary need for washing equipment

It can be useful for smaller growers to wash and disinfect all their crates thoroughly once or twice a year, which could be a reason to rent a crate washer for a week.

2. Responding to peaks in demand

Companies often rent an extra washing machine to cover peak workloads in a certain period.

3. Trial period

Renting a Limex washing machine is a good solution for a company looking to buy a washing machine but unable to wait for delivery. They fill this gap with temporary washing machines.

4. Seasonal cultivation

Renting a washing machine can offer major advantages to growers who produce seasonal products. One German organisation uses rented machines for the cherry crop and the asparagus crop, for example. These are short seasons. The machine is rented by an umbrella organisation of several cherry growers, who use it to wash their crates.

5. No investment needed, fixed costs become variable

We conclude temporary contracts, so fixed costs become variable. For the first few weeks, the costs of preparing the washing machine are included, after which the costs remain fixed. In other words, there are no surprises and you know exactly how much you will have to pay!

6. No investment budget available

If a company or organisation is unable to provide an investment budget, renting washing machines is still an option. This is a good solution for cooperatives that process seasonal products, for example. Cooperatives often operate on a non-profit basis, so an investment would significantly affect the operating result for the year in question. Rental costs, however, are in line with income.

Always a personal touch

Rental is one of our services that certainly goes hand in hand with plenty of customer contact: our customers as well as their demands can vary enormously, so it is very important to include all the specifications when drawing up a rental contract. From small independent market gardeners to managers of large horticultural companies or retailers, the customer’s needs are always met by making sure the washing machine is matched as well as possible to the product to be cleaned.

You do have to conclude a maintenance agreement when renting a machine. We then check the machine on site about once a month to make sure everything is working properly, and the customer is relieved of any concerns.

Machine setup

Although standard models of washers are often available for short-term rental, they still always need to be set up for the specific type of product. Guides, washing lines and the spray pattern can differ from project to project. All the corners of a crate, tray, bucket or other product have to be cleaned thoroughly. The rule of thumb here is that 80% of the washing is aimed at cleaning the inside of the crate, where most of the contamination is located.

If a customer uses various different products, such as buckets and trays, we find a golden mean to make sure both products can be cleaned as well as possible.

This process applies to every rental order: standard machines are set up for the product or products. Our rental machines are always fully tested and cleaned thoroughly before use.

Short-term or long-term rental?

We always consult with the customer to determine an appropriate rental duration, where providing the right washing capacity is always taken into account. The bigger the order, the longer it takes to prepare a machine. For a short-term rental, the machine is usually ready within a few days. For a longer-term rental, a greater lead time needs to be taken into account, which has to reflect the logistical planning of both Limex and the customer.

Plug and play

Local customers requiring short-term rental in the region often organise transport themselves. These are smaller machines that are operated manually. That could be attractive for a small strawberry farm that wants to wash its strawberry trays once a year. The customer collects the washing machine with their van, and in a week’s time they return it. In other words: the ideal service to meet seasonal demands!

Tailor-made

By longer-term rental we means a period of several months or more. These projects involve a longer lead time, during which there is a lot of communication, organisation and planning. The machines that are installed on location for a longer period of time are tailor-made, and include an automated washing process, longer washing lines, sometimes a built-in blow dryer, and various options.

If you would like to find out more about the possibilities of renting a washing machine, take a look at this page.