TOMRA Sorting Solutions at Pack Expo 2013: Highlighting the breadth of its food Sorting Capabilities

Sensor-based sorting systems pioneer TOMRA Sorting Solutions will demonstrate the breadth of its food applications at PACK EXPO 2013.

The company will showcase its Nimbus laser sorter, Halo optical system and QVision meat analyzer at the largest packing and processing industry event in North America. Pack Expo 2013 takes place from September 23 to 25, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, where TOMRA’s food processing solutions can be seen at Booth 7027 in the South Hall.

Ashley Hunter, president and sales director for the Americas and Oceania, TOMRA Sorting Food, who will be attending PACK EXPO, said: “The systems we’ll display demonstrate that, having combined the respected ODENBERG and BEST brands within one organization, following our acquisition of the latter in 2012, we now offer the latest product portfolio for sensor-based sorting needs across the entire food sector.”

The Nimbus multiple laser and high-resolution camera system permits sorting by color, structure, size and shape in free-fall and can sort based on material type, using near infra-red (NIR) spectroscopy. The ejection system uses an optimal pitch for enhanced defect removal and the machine can be equipped with a front sorting or rear ejection system, for greater flexibility and reduced false reject rates.

Mr Hunter said: “The Nimbus Smart Sort module helps operators set parameters by analyzing incoming products and provides program set up simply and quickly. The revolutionary digital Flex Sort technology eliminates the need to select and change the optimal reference drum for each product, improving the contrast between good and defective items. Quality control and feedback are secured via the intuitive graphical user interface and touch screen, with customers and TOMRA engineers being able to access the system’s settings from anywhere in the world.” Benefits of the Nimbus system include its user-friendliness and low maintenance, plus its modularity and upgradeability.

The Halo provides high-performance sorting and grading for quality, size and food safety. According to Mr. Hunter: “Combining intelligence with advanced controls, the long-life, compact Halo system provides sort flexibility and accuracy. Using top and bottom sensor banks to view each object in-flight, the machine uses a combination of light-emitting diodes, in the visible and NIR spectrum, to perform targeted spectroscopy with 1mm precision.

“The highly advanced Halo system views and analyzes attributes - such as colors, shapes, blemishes, foreign materials and difficult-to-see defects in product composition - to produce a highly accurate, flexible and controllable sort.” TOMRA says the Halo system’s benefits include: significant labor cost reductions, averaging 80 per cent upwards;yield increases of up to four per cent;low operational costs;and fast return on investment.

Fresh pack Halo applications include: salad, small main crop, large, sweet and russet potatoes;carrots;parsnips;onions;tomatoes;pickles;cucumbers;and gherkins. Processor applications include: peeled and unpeeled potatoes;carrots;peaches;pears;tomatoes;green beans, onions;apricots;and citrus fruits, such as oranges and mandarins. The Qvision fat analyzer measures fat, protein, moisture and weight in fresh or frozen meat, at any grind size, across the full width of its conveyor belt, with analysis penetrating far into the meat.
 

Mr Hunter said: “With its accuracy, price point, ease of integration and ability to simplify production control, QVision could make in-line fat analysis mainstream. The machine’s capacity is unrivalled, as it can easily handle 30 tons per hour, and through reduced lean giveaway, it helps to improve raw material yield, while ensuring consistent product quality. It’s also less operator-dependent than other systems and eliminates the risk of ‘out of spec’ fat claims.

“In addition, utilizing QVision for raw material traceability and quality control drives smarter purchasing and reduces time spent on correction and overworking, meaning better product line utilization and improved quality. Customers are also finding great value in the monitoring and benchmarking the machine permits.”

TOMRA Sorting Solutions creates sensor-based technologies for sorting, peeling and process analytics. The company unites four strong brands under one roof: TITECH for recycling, TOMRA Sorting Mining for mining, ODENBERG for food and BEST for food and raw materials. This powerful alliance makes the company one of the most advanced providers of sensor-based sorting solutions worldwide.

The alliance provides many benefits and synergies including 15 test centers worldwide, access to a vast array of technologies and a large research and development department. TOMRA Sorting Solutions’ global reach also allows it to deliver an enhanced service offering, with a shared service network ensuring the company is always close to its customers.

For more information visit www.tomrasorting.com