Bühler Group showcases ‘more accurate’ optical sorting technology

Processing technology manufacturer Bühler Group has launched its new Sortex E BioVision sorting technology for the nut processing industry, which allows for the removal of hazardous material up to 50% smaller than previously possible.

Incorporating the company’s BioVision detection technology, the new optical sorter can be used for a wide variety of nuts – including almonds, pistachios, pecans, walnuts and hazelnuts – and allows processors to accurately remove smaller fragments of shell and foreign material than existing machines, Bühler said, minimising associated losses of good nuts.

Bühler global product manager for optical sorting Faisal Baig said: “Historically, sorting shells from nut meat, in almonds in particular, has been an especially difficult task. This is due to the dozens of different almond varieties, each differing in colour, that require the settings of conventional sorting systems to be changed every time a processor switches to another product. As such, substantial loss in valuable nut meat is possible, or a significant underperformance of the sorter, if not adjusted to each specific nut variety.

“In field trials, the Sortex E BioVision demonstrated unparalleled sorting performance, for more than ten different varieties of almonds at once, without any changes required to the sorting program. This allows nut processors to achieve a consistent quality sort for multiple nut varieties, therefore improving product quality, production throughput and uptime.”