Mechanic

by | Jun 19, 2024 | Careers

Careers

with PlantTape

 

Mechanic

Our Company:

PlantTape is an automated transplanting system aimed at reducing costs and labor for growers. The PlantTape process is built around tape that holds seeds and seedlings. The tape facilitates ease of sowing, efficient nursery operations and automated transplanting. With one of the most progressive automated transplanters on the market, PlantTape now has over 100 machines operating globally and 1 billion plugs sold annually.

Location: Salinas, CA & Hollister, CA

The Role:

We are seeking an employee to work within our parts and equipment department to support our customers’ equipment and fleet of PlantTape machinery. This person should quickly gain comprehensive knowledge of mechanical, hydraulic and electrical systems related to PlantTape transplanters to prepare and operate the equipment. This person will have knowledge of transplanter adjustments to maximize in field performance and the ability to troubleshoot and fix problems related to the PlantTape transplanters.

Salary Range: $63,000 – $75,000 per year

Areas of Responsibility: 

  • Comprehensive understanding of the PlantTape transplanters and modules

  • Responsible for ensuring customer equipment is functioning properly

  • Take customer service calls and to troubleshoot and resolve equipment issues

  • Travel to the field to quickly address and fix issues with local customers

  • Maintain a clean functional work shop to build, maintain and repair PlantTape modules and equipment.

  • Help manage spare parts and inventory of equipment

  • Assist team in fulfilling customer parts orders and inventory

  • Assist customers in identifying common wear items and managing their own spare inventory of commonly used parts.

  • Understand the customers’ specific needs and how to best configure the planter and modules to meet those needs

  • Responsible for assembly, preparation, testing and PDI for outgoing machinery

  • Assist Equipment Manager in testing and implementation of new machinery and parts improvements

  • Source local parts and fabricate pieces for engineering and equipment projects

  • Work with Equipment Manager to help identify weak points in the PlantTape system to drive improvements and fixes.

  • Provide basic maintenance and operation training to customers

  • Ability to fix potential safety hazards to avoid injuries

  • Ability to travel within North America for trials, onsite maintenance, modifications or repairs to PlantTape transplanters

 

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • 5 years of related experience

  • Travel and afterhours work required.

  • A valid driver’s license is required

  • Ability to travel internationally (passport required, no DUI)

  • Must have strong communication and organizational skills and have great attention to detail

  • Knowledge of agriculture is a plus

  • Must be able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously 

 Physical Demands

  • The employee is required to lift up to 75 pounds unaided

  • Employee is regularly required to sit, walk and stand

  • This employee works in indoor as well as outdoor environment subject to moving mechanical parts

Apply Here: 

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PlantTape Automated Transplanting System

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Canadian Sales Representative

Canadian Sales Representative

by | Jan 18, 2024 | Agtech

Careers

with PlantTape

 

Canadian Sales Representative

Our Company:

PlantTape is an automated transplanting system aimed at reducing costs and labor for growers. The PlantTape process is built around tape that holds seeds and seedlings. The tape facilitates ease of sowing, efficient nursery operations and automated transplanting. With one of the most progressive automated transplanters on the market, PlantTape now has over 100 machines operating globally and 1 billion plugs sold annually.

Location: Ontario or Quebec, Canada

The Role:

The Canadian Sales Representative will be responsible for ensuring success with the PlantTape Automated Transplanting System with current accounts and new business opportunities. Using your agricultural prowess you will be tasked with building and maintaining long-term business relationships through a “boots on the ground” mentality. A successful candidate will be self-motivated, disciplined and eager to learn.

Salary Range: $65,000 – $70,000 per year

Areas of Responsibility: 

  • Frequent attendance to current accounts’ plantings to ensure quality and successful operation of the PlantTape system
  • Work closely with nursery partners to grow volume and ensure quality of product
  • Work with East Territory Manager to create, implement and maintain a territory sales plan; complete with obtainable goals and deliverables
  • Track and communicate all customer activities to the East Territory Manager and PlantTape leadership
  • Work closely with the equipment department to ensure excellent customer support and service by reporting and personally resolving any equipment troubleshooting events
  • Responsible for PlantTape equipment set up and training with new clients and demonstrations
  • Troubleshoot any machine issues with current accounts or demonstrations by using your comprehensive knowledge of the PlantTape system
  • Participate and contribute in weekly sales meetings
  • Coordinate and help organize trials and equipment demonstrations, working closely with the East Coast Territory Manager.
  • Attend relevant sales events, such as tradeshows

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s Degree in ag-business or related field (preferred)
  • 1-3 years of experience in agricultural sales. (Seed, equipment, Ag tech, irrigation, fertilizer etc.)
  • Knowledge of electrical, hydraulic and mechanical systems
  • Fluent in English and French (preferred)
  • Strong knowledge and understanding of Canadian produce industry
  • Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to multi-task in a fast paced environment
  • Self-motivated
  • Ability to prioritize while handling multiple tasks
  • Valid driver’s license
  • Ability to travel internationally (valid passport)
  • Must be able to lift 50 lbs.
  • Afterhours and weekend work may be required
  • Work in an outdoor and indoor environment around moving parts and equipment.

 Physical Demands

  • Extensive travel around Canada and occasional travel to Northeast and Midwest
  • Bi-yearly trips to Salinas, California

Apply Here: 

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PlantTape Automated Transplanting System

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PlantTape and Stokes Seeds Forge Strategic Partnership to Elevate Grower Experience and Efficiency

PlantTape and Stokes Seeds Forge Strategic Partnership to Elevate Grower Experience and Efficiency

by | Aug 16, 2023 | PlantTape news

PlantTape, the leading provider of an automated transplanting system and Stokes Seed, a renowned seed company, are excited to announce a dynamic new partnership aimed at delivering exceptional service to their grower customers. In an effort to provide growers with the best possible resources, PlantTape has decided to collaborate with Stokes Seeds, making them the recommended seed supplier for PlantTape customers across the eastern regions of the United States and Canada.

“Cultivating this partnership with Stokes Seeds marks a pivotal moment for PlantTape and underscores our commitment to supporting our East Coast customers at the highest level,” said Dominick Levari, East Coast Sales Manager at PlantTape. “By synergizing our cutting-edge transplanting technology with Stokes Seeds’ exceptional seed offerings, we’re poised to elevate growers’ capabilities and outcomes. This collaboration is a testament to our shared vision of driving innovation and excellence within the industry.”

Under this new partnership, Stokes Seeds and PlantTape will work together to supply growers who utilize PlantTape technology with the highest quality seeds available, ensuring that the advantages of the automated transplanting system are fully leveraged. By strategically warehousing seed at PlantTape’s Livingston, Tennessee operation, customer orders will be processed more efficiently, and seeded tape will be swiftly transported to greenhouses.

To further enhance the customer experience, Stokes Seeds sales representatives will provide growers with PlantTape specifications and available options for PlantTape-certified greenhouses. They will also offer expert recommendations on seed selections that are best suited for sowing using the PlantTape technology.

PlantTape, headquartered in Salinas, California, stands at the forefront of automated transplanting systems, revolutionizing commercial vegetable transplant production through precision agriculture. Their cutting-edge technology is particularly beneficial for grower operations with crops such as tomatoes, hemp, and other row vegetables.

Stokes Seeds, with a rich history dating back to 1881, is a trusted distributor of commercial vegetable seeds. With operations in multiple locations including Holland, Michigan, Buffalo, New York, Vineland, New Jersey, Moultrie, Georgia, LaBelle, Florida, and Thorold, Ontario, Stokes Seeds is well-positioned to serve its customers effectively. Their team of 25 territory managers is dedicated to providing growers with access to the latest seed varieties.

This partnership between PlantTape and Stokes Seed represents a significant step forward in supporting growers and their agricultural endeavors. By combining the expertise of two industry leaders, customers can expect enhanced product offerings, streamlined processes, and outstanding service.

PlantTape Transplants using Stokes Seeds for a lettuce variety
Parts and Service Technician

Parts and Service Technician

by | Jun 26, 2023 | Careers

Careers

with PlantTape

Parts and Service Technician

Our Company:

PlantTape is an automated transplanting system aimed at reducing costs and labor for vegetable growers. The PlantTape process is built around a biodegradable tape that holds seeds and seedlings. The tape facilitates ease of sowing, efficient nursery operations and automated transplanting. With one of the most progressive and innovative automated transplanters on the market, PlantTape now has over 100 machines operating globally.

Location: Salinas, California; Hollister, California

The Role:

We are seeking an employee to process incoming and outgoing parts orders while maintaining a clean and organized inventory and shop space. This person will support transplanter equipment projects as well as have knowledge of transplanter adjustments to maximize in field performance and the ability to troubleshoot and fix problems related to the PlantTape transplanters.

Pay Range: $17.00 – $25.50 per hour

Areas of Responsibility: 

  • Receive customer parts orders, process orders in the inventory system and package the order in a timely manner
  • Deliver packaged customer part orders to local growers if necessary
  • Deliver packaged customer part orders to local shippers (UPS or FedEx) as necessary
  • Create purchase orders in the PlantTape parts system and receive parts purchases
  • Finalize parts sales invoices in the inventory system
  • Maintain a neat and orderly inventory and parts storage area
  • Track inventory stock levels and order parts to replenish stocks as necessary
  • Perform full inventory cycle counts once per month, perform inventory adjustments if necessary
  • Basic knowledge of hydraulic, electrical and mechanical systems
  • Travel to the field, if necessary, to quickly address and fix issues with local customers
  • Quickly respond to issues by sourcing and coordinating the delivery of needed parts to customers
  • Maintain a clean functional work shop to build, maintain and repair PlantTape modules and Equipment.
  • Help manage inventory of transplanter equipment
  • Have good knowledge of each part and its application and function on the PlantTape machine
  • Assist customers in identifying common wear items
  • Assist in initial delivery, set up and training for new customers and equipment if necessary

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • 2-5 years of related experience
  • Some travel and afterhours work required.
  • A valid driver’s license is required
  • Must have basic Microsoft Word and Excel skills
  • Ability to travel internationally (passport required, no DUI)
  • Must have strong communication and organizational skills and have great attention to detail
  • Knowledge of agriculture and/or equipment is a plus
  • Must be able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously

 Physical Demands

  • The employee is required to lift up to 75 pounds unaided
  • Employee is regularly required to sit, walk and stand
  • This employee works in indoor as well as outdoor environment subject to moving mechanical parts

Apply Here: 

Name(Required)
Email(Required)
Applying For:(Required)
Max. file size: 2 MB.
Max. file size: 2 MB.

PlantTape Automated Transplanting System

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Contact

 

1-888-272-6828

The World’s Fastest Transplanter

The World’s Fastest Transplanter

by | Mar 16, 2022 | Agtech

PlantTape’s 3-point transplanter is fast. How fast? We decided to find out. We took it to the field with the intention of discovering the top speed at which the planter could still plant with precision. Growers typically operate our machine at 1-6 mph, depending on the crop planted and soil type. The limiting factor on the speed, however, is not actually the transplanter, but is limited by the crew’s ability to keep up with feeding the tape into the planting modules. PlantTape requires only two workers (not including the tractor driver), and a primary task of these two individuals is clipping the tape from different nursery trays together for a seamless pull-through by the planting modules.

A Word on PlantTape Nursery Trays and Tape

As we explain in our automated transplanter page, our transplanter’s planting modules pull the tape (which holds the seedlings) from nursery trays, cut the tape between plants, and place each seedling into the soil. A PlantTape transplanter holds 68 trays of seedlings. At 840 plants per tray, that’s about 57,000 plants. With each tray’s tape clipped to the beginning of the next tray’s tape, an ultralong, unbroken tape can be pulled through the modules.

 

 

PlantTape’s Rate-Limiting Factor for Transplanting

The limiting factor for the top transplanting speed is not the transplanter itself, but rather the crew’s ability to keep up with the speed of the machine to clip the tape together, tray-to-tray. If the tape is flying out of the trays faster than the crew can clip it, the transplanter out paces the two people and the tape ends. The rate at which the tape leaves the trays depends on two factors: plant-to-plant spacing, and ground speed. If plant-to-plant spacing is wider—say for hemp or tomatoes—the crew can keep pace with a higher ground speed. With a crop such as onions or lettuce, however, a tight plant-to-plant spacing means that the tape will be leaving the trays at more velocity, given equal ground speed.

Planter Modules Calibrated to Transplanter Ground Speed

PlantTape’s transplanter stands apart from the competition in its ability to calibrate the planting rates of its modules to the machine’s ground speed. If the tractor driver speeds up or slows down, plant spacing stays consistent as the modules adjust their rate to compensate. In contrast, other transplanters’ ground drive systems can’t automatically calibrate their planting rate to ground speed, so they rely on specific ground speeds to achieve a target plant spacing. Automatic planting rate calibration: yet another advantage of the PlantTape system.

 

 

So How Fast Can the PlantTape Transplanter Go?

Danielle Michaels recalls her days in the field (currently, Danielle serves as PlantTape’s North American Sales Director with a particular tractor driver who “suddenly started going 10mph” during a day of vegetable transplanting. “The transplanter planted just fine,” she remembers, “but the ride got a bit bumpy for the crew.” A 10 mph transplanter is ultrafast by industry standards, but the team at PlantTape suspected the machine could plant with precision at much higher speeds. To find the transplanter’s top planting speed, a PlantTape crew, , hitched one of our transplanters to a John Deere 6150 tractor and achieved sustained speeds of 20 mph. The planting modules still delivered each seedling into the soil with the same precision as at lower speeds. “We would never recommend going this fast for production acres,” Michaels admits, “but this is just for fun, to see how fast it would go.” Until we receive notice of our record being overturned, PlantTape is laying claim to the world’s fastest transplanter. Watch the PlantTape “Fastest Transplanter” Youtube video of the demo.

 

 

About PlantTape

PlantTape represents an entire automated transplanting system, of which our fast transplanter is one component.

  • Sowing: it all begins with our automated sowing system, which seeds our tape.
  • Nursery: PlantTape empowers high-yield nursery operations by more than doubling greenhouse throughput.
  • Transplanting: our 3-point planter is the fastest, most efficient transplanter on the planet.

The entire process, from sowing through transplanting, is enabled by our trademark plant tape: a tape that holds seeds, and later seedlings, through the entire cycle. Growers of vegetables, tomatoes, and hemp have revolutionized their operations with PlantTape. Our customers have reduced labor costs by as much as 80%, increased crop yield, and introduced other efficiencies to their operations.