Rooted in Reliability: Dolav Boxes Power Cyprus’ Potato Logistics

Introduction

Cyprus is known for its high-quality potatoes, exported across Europe and beyond. In the early 80s, the industry operated under the Cyprus Potatoes Marketing Board (CPMB), which sought to modernize operations by improving how potatoes were handled and moved.

The introduction of Dolav Boxes marked a turning point, offering uniform, rugged, and reusable containers that suited both manual harvesting and mechanized packing.

The Challenge

The Cyprus potato sector faced the need to modernize its manual, labor-intensive processes while preserving product quality during transport and long-term storage. Containers had to endure rough field conditions, stacking, and seasonal storage cycles—often for 4–5 months in refrigerated environments.

With limited automation at the time, the boxes also needed to seamlessly integrate into evolving packing station machinery and withstand years of repeated use.

The Solution: Dolav Boxes in the Field & Cold Chain

Dolav’s type 1000 box, and later the ACE 1000 with two runners, quickly became a mainstay in the Cypriot supply chain.

Farmers began spreading the boxes directly in the fields, where hand-picked potatoes were collected and consolidated into Dolavs holding 350–400 kg each, depending on the variety.

 Once full, the Dolav boxes were stacked 2–3 high on trucks and sent straight to packing stations, where they were tipped mechanically to feed potatoes into automated processing lines.

The empty boxes were then returned to the fields, ensuring a closed-loop, efficient workflow.

At the season’s end, the same boxes were used for refrigerated storage, stacked 4–5 high, keeping the potatoes in excellent condition for up to five months. Impressively, many of the original boxes imported in the 1980s are still in active use today, testifying to their durability.

The Results

By integrating Dolav boxes into every stage of the supply chain, the Cyprus potato industry significantly improved logistics, consistency, and long-term produce quality. The uniform size and rugged build allowed for smoother handling and better stacking, both in transportation and cold storage.

Over time, even as the industry evolved—especially post-2004 with the entry of private exporters—Dolav remained the trusted container of choice across all major packing stations.

• Decades of Durability – Original Dolav boxes from the 1980s remain in use
• Improved Harvesting Efficiency – Streamlined manual collection and reduced double-handling
• Cold Storage Compatibility – Reliable stacking and ventilation for long-term refrigerated storage
• Adaptable for Modern Packing – Seamless integration into automated packing lines
• Closed-Loop System – Easy return of empty boxes ensures efficient field-to-factory logistics

Conclusion

Dolav’s robust and reusable containers have become an integral part of the Cyprus potato industry’s success.

From harvesting in the fields to extended storage in refrigeration units, Dolav boxes have consistently met the demanding conditions of agriculture. Their long service life and adaptability make them an ideal solution for industries where durability, hygiene, and efficiency are non-negotiable.

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