TOMRA Sorting Solutions will join Heat and Control at booth N42 to promote its Nimbus free-fall machine, featuring the latest technological breakthrough for nut and raisin processors, and exhibit its QVision 500 analyzer at Foodpro 2014 in Melbourne, Australia.
Foodpro showcases the latest global innovations and trends within the food manufacturing and processing industry and will attract over 8,500 visitors. The event takes place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, from 22-25 June, and is held every three years.
TOMRA has introduced its unique biometric signature identification (BSI) technology, developed in-house by its own experts, into the Nimbus sorter. The technology works by detecting the biometric characteristics of the nuts and raisins it scans and comparing them to features in its stored database, to determine whether they should be accepted or rejected.
Gurjinder Singh, area sales manager, Oceania and the north-west United States, TOMRA Sorting Food, said: "Benefits of the BSI technology include that it makes the Nimbus an ideal pre-sorting machine. The increased options the innovation provides also enhance the system’s ability to operate in other areas of the production line – it’s now the perfect re-sort or recycle unit, for minimizing good product loss, for example.
"In addition, the state-of-the-art BSI module now detects even smaller defects, compared to conventional spectral technology, enhancing nut and raisin sorting quality and retaining nearly all sound material, while reducing the number of passes needed and level of breakage. The technology therefore offers users lower labour time and higher throughput, yield and efficiency."
The BSI technology represents a significant piece of co-operation between market-leading brands ODENBERG and BEST, which have joined forces within TOMRA’s food business. It also demonstrates the group’s ability to spread innovation across its specialist divisions, as the technology had previously been deployed in its recycling business.
The advent of the BSI technology – now also available to TOMRA food sector customers in its market-leading Field Potato Sorter – follows the company becoming the first provider to introduce high-resolution sensors with adapted spectrums into its solutions, making them ideal for optical sorting, during the last 12 months.
TOMRA’s QVision 500 fat analyzer allows meat processors to secure the maximum benefits available from in-line fat analysis and real-time process control. It can measure fat and lean, protein, collagen, moisture in fresh or frozen meat, at any grind size, across the full width of its conveyor belt, with analysis penetrating far into the meat. It can also provide a live batch weight measurement and operate at an unrivalled capacity of up to 30t/hr.
Tom Krueger, technical sales manager, Oceania and the Americas, TOMRA Sorting Food, said: "With its accuracy, price point, ease of integration and ability to simplify production control, the QVision system has the potential to make in-line fat analysis mainstream."
In addition to capacity increase and the reduction of lean giveaway, the QVision helps customers to get better yield from their raw materials, while ensuring consistent product quality. This eliminates the risk of ‘out of spec’ fat claims.
Mr Krueger said: "Real-time fat measurement and batch formulation eliminate the reliance on inconsistent grab samples and chances for human error. With the added benefit of features such as protein measurement and horse meat detection, we believe this machine will become a must-have for the meat industry."
TOMRA also offers a number of steam peeling solutions for potatoes and root vegetables, such as carrots, red beets, pumpkin, celeriac, as well as peppers and chillies. Its new ECO Peeler, for example, changes the nature of the steam peeling process from fixed steam supply to a new controlled steam management system. The ECO Peeler creates substantial savings in steam consumption and with increased process performance efficiency (i.e. peel loss) provides a savings in raw materials as well.
The company has a wide portfolio of state-of-the-art sensor based sorting and processing technology for both the fresh and processed food industries. TOMRA offers solutions for a multitude of food applications, including potatoes, meat, fruits and vegetables, tailor-made for its customers’ needs.
TOMRA Sorting Solutions 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 and demo 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.
