Key Technology has introduced VERYX digital sorters for fresh-cut leafy greens. VERYX is the world’s only belt-fed sorter that can inspect product entirely in-air with top and bottom sensors in order to detect and eliminate all foreign material (FM) and product defects. Combining Key’s expertise in sorting and conveying, these integrated VERYX systems are specifically designed to handle the challenges of sorting leafy greens. VERYX maximises sort accuracy to remove more FM and defects while virtually eliminating false rejects, improving food safety and increasing yields simultaneously.

 

“Leafy greens present a sorting challenge because of the way leaves can overlap or clump as they are conveyed through the sorter. The fatal flaw of other sorting systems, in addition to having less effective product handling, is that their top sensors inspect product on the belt. If FM is sandwiched between layers of leaves, it’s easily missed because these top sensors won’t be able to effectively see through the leaves. VERYX achieves true full-surface inspection of the product stream – no FM can hide from its sensors. VERYX systems have been successfully processing leafy greens in facilities worldwide. They’re field-proven,” informed Marco Azzaretti, Advanced Inspection Systems Product Manager at Key. 

 

Detecting colour, size, shape and structural properties of every object, including the presence or absence of chlorophyll, VERYX removes insects and animal parts, paperboard, wood, rocks, plastics, glass and more, as well as defects and blemishes including leaf discoloration, tipburn and leaves that are decayed, wilted or broken. VERYX sorting systems can be configured to handle a wide range of products including iceberg, romaine, leafy spinach, cabbage, arugula, frisée, escarole, radicchio, Belgian endive, mache greens, watercress and various salad mixes.

 

Key tailors each VERYX with the optimal sensor types, sensor positions, lighting, ejection system, product handling and software to meet each customer’s specific requirements. Next-generation 4-channel cameras and laser scanners offer twice the resolution of previous sensor technology. For lines that process a variety of leafy greens and salad mixes, fast and accurate recipe-driven changeovers maximize production flexibility and uptime while ensuring repeatable results.