After more than half a year of operation, the “Five-Star Cass Hotel” has become a trusted choice for customers, exceeding expectations. This achievement brings pride to the creators of this “hotel.”
The “Five-Star Cass Hotel” is located in Hoa Binh Industrial Park, Thu Thua District, Long An Province. Unlike other warehouses, it operates using Controlled Atmosphere (CA) technology, which is fully automated. This technology preserves agricultural products without chemicals by modifying the atmospheric composition in the warehouse (reducing oxygen, increasing nitrogen, and CO2) to minimize respiration and maintain the freshness of the produce. Cass is the first system in Long An and Vietnam to use this technology, and it is likened to a five-star hotel.
Quach Thi Le Chan, Director of Cass Fruit and Vegetable Preservation Co., Ltd., explains that many agricultural products are now produced year-round to match market demand and enhance production efficiency. However, issues like price drops and “rescue” operations for surplus produce are still common. This is mainly due to the seasonal nature of agricultural products, leading to overproduction beyond market consumption. While many companies invest in processing technologies, these only partly address issues related to unattractive produce and value-added products. Most agricultural products still need to be consumed fresh, including for export. Therefore, appropriate technological solutions are required to enhance preservation capabilities for both domestic consumption and export. This is why Cass was established in Long An, a region with abundant fruit resources.
Currently, Cass has completed Phase 1 of the project, which includes a warehouse system with two rooms, each with 9 levels and a capacity of 4,000 pallets, equivalent to 3,000 tons. Room 1 operates at 4-6°C, and Room 2 at 10-12°C, suitable for all types of fruits in Vietnam. After more than six months of operation, Cass attracts customers for the preservation of various fruits like dragon fruit, lime, guava, sapodilla, watermelon, custard apple, and beetroot.
Due to the unique nature of Cass’s warehouse system, there are no human workers inside the warehouse. Robots replace humans for warehouse operations. During inventory intake, employees scan codes onto pallets, each with a unique identification number. When retrieving products, employees input the code, and robots use software to locate and retrieve items. This process ensures quick, accurate, and secure handling of goods, avoiding errors or mix-ups, and maintaining the confidentiality of customer information.
A company specializing in the export-import of fresh fruits, which was checking a batch of seedless limes before exporting to Dubai, shared that it has over ten years of experience in the industry, importing fruits from Australia and Europe. They noted that Cass’s storage preserves fruits longer than other warehouses and maintains consistent cold temperatures. For example, limes stored at Cass retain their color and freshness without oil leaks.
According to Mrs. Quach Thi Le Chan, initial skepticism from customers has been overcome through positive experiences. Customers now acknowledge Cass’s advantages, particularly in minimizing post-storage loss. Currently, the loss rate for watermelons is almost zero, and for limes and other fruits, it is around 1%. In contrast, other storage systems may have a loss rate of 10-15% due to dehydration or spoilage. This success is attributed to thorough research and careful handling practices, ensuring consistent airflow and preservation of product quality.
Phase 1 of the Cass warehouse project is complete, and the company plans to further automate operations with machinery and robots to reduce manual labor. In Phase 2, the company will develop a service platform similar to a fruit exchange between buyers and sellers. The new facility will cover over 5,000 m² and offer comprehensive services, including preprocessing, washing, thermal treatment, quality testing, and packaging, to support traders and businesses with large and stable supply chains for domestic and export markets.
Images of Cass’s warehouse operations
• Hotline/Zalo: 0931790829 – 0931780829
• Email: cass@cass.vn
• Website: cass.vn
• Fanpage: CASS – Kho bảo quản nông sản tươi bằng công nghệ CA
• Địa chỉ kho CASS: Lô F5, Đường số 6, KCN Hoà Bình, Huyện Thủ Thừa, Tỉnh Long An.
