Optical sorting technology manufacturer Bühler has announced the launch of two “significant” new systems that will help frozen fruit and vegetable processors to achieve optimal standards in food safety and hygiene.
Sortex PolarVision, its new advanced foreign material detection technology, will make it easier for processors to meet stringent safety specifications, while the Sortex F optical sorter features multiple developments for hygienic processing.
The Sortex PolarVision technology platform is a sophisticated foreign material detection system delivering outstanding results with a wide array of frozen produce. From single products, such as peas or raspberries, to more complex vegetable mixes that may contain seafood and spices, it operates from one simple set-up with a substantial sorting improvement on difficult-to-detect defects.
It works by combining two dedicated foreign material detection technologies – the Sortex PolarCam and high-definition InGaAsHD – both developed in response to industry demand for cutting-edge technology to tackle difficult-to-detect defects, including dark and light plastics, wood, cardboard, cigarette ends, glass and stones.
Sortex PolarCam is an advanced foreign material camera that has been designed to see the difference between vegetable and non-vegetable matter, regardless of its colour. It is therefore possible to process different products or mixes, with little or no change to settings, and still detect non-vegetable material even when they’re dark in colour, Bühler said.
The high-definition InGaAsHD technology has double the resolution of standard InGaAs and can recognise smaller pieces of hazardous material, half the size previously detectable.
These combined technologies offer a complete foreign material detection solution that reduces the need for adjustment between products as visible cameras are not required. Dedicated foreign material controls improve the usability of the system, making life easier for the operator, Bühler said.
The launch comes at a key time when safety is high on the industry agenda. Processors face a constant challenge to detect and remove foreign materials and keep pace with an industry that is continuously innovating to create often complex, value-added products that must adhere to rigorous safety standards.
Bühler R&D specialist Ben Deefholts said: “Based on our understanding of the issues processors were facing with existing technologies, in detecting a cross-section of foreign materials, we put together an in-house research project to analyse spectral data from a wide range of vegetable material, typical foreign materials and samples of other foreign materials that customers were finding difficult to detect using existing technology. We used the results of the research to create a combination of cameras and optics, including a revised InGaAs HD technology and a new IR camera with active background.
“Fruit and vegetable processors often run many different products down a packing line in one day, so they need to be able to switch easily between them. This means they normally need generic foreign materials removal, with additional specific programmes for colour defects or extraneous vegetable matter based on shape. The Sortex E and Sortex F with PolarVision makes adjustment of the sorter much more intuitive and will better suit the busy life of the packing line.”
Stephen Jacobs, global product manager for Bühler, added: “We are very excited by the development of this new technology. We believe Sortex PolarVision is the first and only system on the market which can deliver such superior foreign materials detection, across multiple products, with complete ease. Combine this with the Sortex F platform, and you have a revolutionary solution which addresses two of the biggest issues in the food industry today – safety and hygiene.”
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