The technologies developed at MCPI are often a matter of careful, almost gentle handling. This may be for reasons of safety (in pyrotechnics) or the need for absolute precision of dosage (in the medical field), but also to preserve the material being transported… such as very fragile insect eggs.
A virtuous and very valuable application
A customer commissioned MCPI in order to transport green lacewing eggs (Chrysoperla carnea) and distribute them into boxes. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae of the common green lacewing are very fond of the aphids that harm agricultural crops by feeding on the sap of plants (especially in horticulture and arboriculture). This effective solution is an ideal substitute for the use of chemical pesticides, which are naturally banned from organic crops.
The eggs are all the more precious in that they are extremely expensive, costing more than €10,000 per kilo. Transporting them to their container thus requires great delicacy.
Delicate transport requiring several adjustments
The MCPI sprinkler meets the company’s needs by placing the eggs uniformly and repeatedly in their honeycomb boxes (mixed with dead butterfly eggs that will serve as food for the larvae when they hatch). The boxes are then covered with fabric and transported to customers, both professionals and consumers.
To achieve a birth and death rate consistent with what is observed in a protected environment, MCPI equipped the machine with a very fine storage hopper, preventing too many eggs from accumulating and becoming compressed. Linear transfer is achieved with no unwanted movement thanks to the oscillation generator, a system also used to move potentially dangerous products.
This technology, with its proven stability, is also very reliable and easy to maintain. Its stainless steel design is ideal for humid environments, such as the greenhouses where common green lacewing are cultivated.
