Sensor-based sorting

Christiaan Fivez, Managing Director at Tomra Sorting NV

4 October 2016. Visit to TOMRA Sorting Food of Dr. Janet Edeme, Ag. Director of Rural Economy and Agriculture Department, African Union Commission and Dr. Amare Ayalew, Programme Manager of PACA.

TOMRA Sorting’s sensor technologies ensure high speed processing of information such as material, shape, size, geometry, color, defect and damage characteristics, and location of objects. To provide the right and precise sorting solution,

TOMRA starts working from the broad application, customize the mechanical and technological needs for a particular product, and then fine-tune the sorting machine with the needed core sorting components, including sensors, electronics, software, and ejection modules.

Data revealing aflatoxins to be the biggest cause of food-related recalls demonstrates the important role effective sorting and quality analysis systems can play in boosting food safety on the production line,

Implementing sorting technology can significantly reduce the risk of contamination from aflatoxins, mycotoxins and foreign material, driving up food safety on the production line and offering a smart investment for processors and manufacturers. Delivering high quality, safe food is good for business! The reputational and financial impact of a product recall can be devastating for a company. Effective food sorting and analysis equipment have a huge role to play in consumer and brand protection so implementing these processes makes good business sense - good food safety performance protects consumers which in turn protect the corporate brand." Ashley Hunter, head of TOMRA Sorting Food.

Background:
TOMRA Sorting Food is a leading provider of food sorting machines and processing technology for the fresh and processed food industries. The company’s focus on research and development has enabled it to develop a range of innovative sorting machines which are able to detect and remove the smallest of defects and foreign material from production lines.

TOMRA machines use a variety of sensors which go far beyond the common use of colour cameras. Near Infra-Red (NIR) spectroscopy enables an analysis of the molecular structure of a product whilst x-rays, fluorescent lighting and lasers measure the elemental composition of objects. The internal composition and surface structure of objects can also be analysed to determine good or bad produce.

Grotech color sorter from China

Related blog post: 

New sensor system sniffs out mycotoxins in wheat

23 March 2015. The EU funded MYCOHUNT project developed a system that can sniff out mycotoxins in wheat almost immediately. It is expected to be on the market within two years.