Page 6 - AWA Vol.42-No3

FOOd PrOCeSSING TeChNOlOGy ANd eQuIPMeNT

Key Technology Introduces COMPASS® Optical Sorter

for Fresh and IQF Corn, Peas and Green Beans

Key Technology (Key), a member of
Duravant’s Food Sorting and Handling
Group, introduces its COMPASS® opti-
cal sorter for fresh and IQF corn, peas
and green beans at Expo Pack Mexico
booth 2418. Purpose-built for vegetable
processors managing multiple SKUs,
product medleys and frequent change-
overs, COMPASS delivers precise, re-
peatable removal of foreign material decades of food processing expertise, cult-to-detect FM and product defects.
(FM) and product defects across varied bringing together our deep investment In many applications, COMPASS deliv-
production requirements. Available in in sensing science and application en- ers detection capabilities comparable
belt-fed configurations for fresh appli- gineering. It raises the bar for optical to laser-based sorters but without me-
cations and chute-fed configurations for sorting performance while making it chanical scanning components, low-
IQF, COMPASS protects product quality, easy for facility teams to run, clean and ering maintenance requirements and
reduces operational complexity and of- maintain.” long-term operating costs.
fers a strong return on investment.
COMPASS features Key’s advanced COMPASS identifies and removes a
“Vegetable processors are navigat- sensing architecture, which combines wide range of FM and product defects,
ing more competitive markets with multi-channel sensor data and multi- including stones, sticks, plastic, metal
tighter margins, broader portfolios and wavelength strobing to generate up to and extraneous vegetable matter, as
leaner workforces. Equipment must eight streams of inspection data. Key’s well as discolored or damaged prod-
carry more responsibility while asking proprietary Pixel Fusion™ detection uct and large ice or frozen agglomer-
less of the people running it,” said Gina technology uses visible and infrared ates in IQF applications. Object-based
Maria Bonini, President of Key Technol- data at the pixel level to further sharpen recognition and shape analysis enable
ogy – Americas. “COMPASS reflects our contrast for finding even the most diffi- the sorter to distinguish FM and defects
that closely resemble good product,
minimizing false rejects.

For fresh corn, peas and green beans,
COMPASS is configured as a belt-fed
sorter for wet, debris-heavy environ-
ments where traditional optical systems
often struggle to maintain consistent
performance. The sorter can be in-
stalled at various points on the line as
needed, including raw receiving and
just ahead of freezing. Intelligent belt
control offers automated belt tracking
and optimal belt tensioning to minimize
downtime while quick-release belt re-
moval streamlines sanitation and main-
tenance.

For IQF vegetable applications, COM-
4 Vol. 42 No. 3