With nearly 200 machines in operation in Chile and present in approximately 50 companies in the industry, Ashlock—represented in the country by Southern Solutions—has established a business model in which after-sales service is not merely an add-on, but the core of its value proposition.
This is how Jorge Searle, commercial manager at Southern Solutions, explains it, highlighting that one of the company’s main strengths lies in its ability to provide ongoing support to its customers, ensuring the operational continuity of their equipment throughout the entire season.
“We don’t just deliver a machine. Our focus is on ensuring that those machines always operate at their best. To that end, we maintain constant communication with our customers and conduct regular on-site visits to anticipate any needs,” he notes.
Unlike other more traditional models, Ashlock operates on a leasing model, which means technical service is included from the very beginning. This allows customers to focus on their operations, while Southern Solutions handles equipment maintenance, adjustments, and optimization.
“This policy comes straight from the factory. The customer doesn’t have to worry about machine maintenance; we ensure it’s always operational, with a preventive approach throughout the year,” explains Searle, who adds that they have a team of five experts—who undergo training in the United States every two or three years—who travel the country making weekly visits to the installed machines. The goal is clear: to ensure that each machine operates under optimal conditions and to prevent downtime that could affect production.
Key Points for the Plum Industry
The prune production process requires a high degree of technical precision, as there are numerous factors that influence the final quality demanded by consumers.
In this context, stages such as softening and pitting become the heart of the production process. For this reason, it is essential for processing plants in Chile to have suppliers that not only offer high-standard technology but also operational reliability and rapid response times in the event of any contingency.
It is precisely in this area where Ashlock has established itself in the country, through its pitting machines and Vision Systems. While the former plays a central role in process efficiency, the Vision System acts as a key quality control measure, detecting and eliminating any contingency.
“This is a comprehensive solution, where it’s not just the technology that matters, but also ongoing customer support to ensure operational continuity,” explains Searle.
These solutions, and this service-oriented approach, have begun to expand into other industries, such as processed cherries—that is, those not exported fresh—which must be processed into frozen, sulphited, dehydrated, or other formats. Ashlock has established itself as the undisputed leader in technology supply for this industry, thanks to a business model focused on service excellence.
Other Representations
In addition to its work with Ashlock, Southern Solutions also represents a portfolio of technologies that address various processes within the food industry, expanding its offerings beyond plum pitting.
The company works with leading international brands such as Turatti, on solutions for fresh-cut salad processing; PND, on technology for processed fruit; Purotecs, on ozone applications aimed at improving product quality and shelf life; Protec, on optical sorting technologies; and Ekinsa, on wine barrel washing systems.
Beyond the diversity of solutions, the common thread is the way Southern Solutions approaches each of these partnerships: by applying its model centered on service, ongoing support, and operational continuity for its clients.
“Regardless of the technology we represent, our focus is always the same: ensuring that equipment functions properly and that the client can operate without interruptions. That is the hallmark we strive to maintain across all our business lines,” concludes Searle.
