• Key Technology Inc

Laser Sorter, Fluorescence-Sensing

Key Technology, an ISO-9001 certified company, is a leading designer and manufacturer of process automation systems, integrated electro-optical inspection and sorting systems, and processing systems. The company is introducing FluoRaptor?, the new fluorescence-sensing laser sorter, to the European market at Interpack (April 2008, Dusseldorf). FluoRaptor maximises the detection and removal of defects, extraneous vegetable matter (EVM), and foreign material (FM) based on differing levels of chlorophyll as well as colour, size, and shape. Using the most powerful laser in the food industry in combination with Key?s proprietary colour cameras, FluoRaptor achieves superior product quality and speeds product changeover for processors of fresh cut products and a variety of fresh and frozen vegetables and potato products. Featuring a new high-power laser and new optics, Key is extending its successful Optyx? Raptor family of laser inspection systems by leveraging its ten-year expertise in camera-based fluorescence-sensing sorting. Key?s new FluoRaptor detects the presence of chlorophyll in products. This enables an easy separation from those objects that do not contain chlorophyll, namely FM. Further, the improvements in fluorescence-detection technology enable differentiation of subtle differences of chlorophyll levels in objects to detect and remove EVM. With the greatest laser power density in the industry, FluoRaptor improves the signal-to-noise ratio to produce a more accurate product signature, which makes detection more robust. With the highest resolution laser scanner in the food industry, Raptor detects the smallest defects.