EXPERT VIEW


MAKING SORTING EFFICIENT I


n a trendsetter company, you need to continue to invest in development of technology. So, we are listening to the major players in the industry to


define strategies for our R&D department to fulfill the needs of the consumer as close as possible. Standards are rising and the end consumer is even more demanding, so the challenge is a big one.” Recent developments are made on different levels


such as optical, software and mechanical improvements which results in improved efficiencies. A first breakthrough is a new multi channel BEST


camera; which combines different channels to not only improve the detection efficiency of defects, based on colour, but also makes it possible to analyse each object separately on shape or length. By using these different channels, an even better distinction can be made between good products and defects, and this for a complete range of products, going from peeled to skin-on products. A next state-of-the art development is the Flex Sort Module


that can be integrated in the sorting machines. The Flex Sort Module allows us sorting a wide range of


products, against the same reference. By combining the new BEST camera, with specific light sources, we are able to only identify the products and ignore the surrounding. This technology has the advantage that dirty belts, product shadows… no longer have an influence on the sorting process, which will improve the sorting efficiency and product recovery. Another important technology that guarantees optimal


efficiency on ‘green’ detection is the FLUO technology. This technology looks at the level of chlorophyll certain objects


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Making sorting even more efficient require a continuous investment in technology. Roel Molenaers, Sales Manager and Potato Industry expert


for BEST, guides us through recent and proven developments his company has been working on for the last months.


contain. BEST uses the technology to take out the potato products that contain this contamination, even when the contamination is hidden under the skin of the product. The proven laser technology remains a very important


technology in the detection of foreign material and biological characteristics. Because of the years of experience that BEST can show in laser


sorting, we can rely on demonstrated efficiency levels. A good example is the detection of sugar level in fresh potato products which can be removed very effective using the BEST laser technology. On the mechanical side, a recent improvement to the machine


is the three-way sorting feature. The BEST sorters can be equipped with this module, which results in different reject streams. Because of the combination of the above mentioned technologies and the different possible combinations among them, there are a multitude of options possible when defining the


Potato Processing Int. Magazine - Digital Digest • www.potatobusiness.com 5­


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