Due to material shortages in many areas, it took us a lot of time and effort to procure the planned equipment. Almost exactly one year ago, our tray dryer was completed. Since then we have been gathering piece by piece of the equipment in our warehouse in Oberradin. From solar modules, a 3000 liter water storage tank, video cameras to many small parts like fittings for washbasins, mounting materials, hoses etc.. All the equipment filled a 40 foot highcube container up to the last inch. You can watch this in fast motion in our video. Not only the procurement of the equipment, but also the necessary formalities for the export to Uganda demanded a lot of us and provided for thrills. After a lot of preparatory work, we were able to receive the so-called PVoC (declaration of conformity) just in time with the shipment of the container. The container has already arrived in Mombasa, Kenya. The customs cleared equipment is expected 3-4 weeks later in Kampala in the warehouse of our partner All in Trade.
In the meantime All in Trade will do its best to finish our building. Currently, the steel skeleton structure of the building is being constructed and the walls are being raised. In parallel, the 10,000 liter water tank is being installed on a tower, which will then be supplied by the solar water pump. The pump is already pumping water from a depth of 50 meters for the construction site. Through the tank we can then, in addition to our construction site or then shortly our production, also supply the village community with urgently needed water.
In mid-December, the first installation team from Vorarlberg will fly to Uganda with Daniel to lay the flooring, mount the first stainless steel tables and set up the power supply based on photovoltaics. In mid-January, the team will continue with the installation of the solar thermal system and the production equipment. Then we still have to complete just-in-time the organic certification for our new production and the re-certification of the cooperative.
If everything goes according to plan, we will start production in March. It is important for us to ensure a complete traceability of each daily production batch. Therefore, we are working on a software that transparently records the complete material flow and the individual production steps from the delivery of the pineapples by the farmers to the delivery to our customers. Before we put our dried fruit on the market in Europe, we will have final laboratory tests carried out in an accredited laboratory in Austria.
All in all, it should finally be ready in spring. We will deliver you the first delicious solar dried pineapples from our own factory in Kangulumira.
We are looking forward to it and are always available for questions and discussions.