Data tracking aids potato sorting
Leslah Garland 9 November 2022 
Bühler examines how data is equipping companies with essential information to combat the challenges facing fruit, vegetable and potato sorting and says with Bühler Insights, companies have access to the most advanced data tracking in optical sorting:
To understand the value of data in optical sorters, it is important to understand the monetary value of a company’s time. For example, if a company is producing €10,000 of vegetable products an hour and there is a fault that is not discovered until two hours later, then the company has potentially lost €20,000 of revenue. This is just scratching the surface of the value of data in fruit, vegetable and potato sorting, but it gives an idea of the cost of not connecting and utilising data. The world needs to adapt to survive, and that includes the agriculture sector. Simply, data provides us with statistics that show behaviours, human behaviours, and machine behaviours. The more we understand behaviour, the more we can optimise, patch up the leaks, react speedily, and create a leaner, healthier business.
Three problems facing the fruit, vegetable and potato sector, and how data can help.
Problem 1: Blockages
Often, fruit, vegetable or potato processing will involve frozen products. A common problem is when a product clump or ice chunk gets stuck and causes a blockage. This becomes a larger problem when the blockage obstructs the camera view which is detecting the product. In this scenario, perfectly good product can end up in the rejected stream, wasting resources and money.
The solution:
The data integrated into Bühler SORTEX machines easily and instantly recognise blockages, reporting them on the dashboard and triggering an alarm. This means the issue can get sorted quickly with minimal contamination or loss of good material
Problem 2: Variations in product quality
Two differently farmed potatoes may both be nutritious, but they’re not always equal when it comes to processing costs and quality. Fruit and vegetable processors will often receive their raw materials from multiple suppliers. The problem? One supplier’s quality may be better than another despite both farmers being paid the same. This could go unnoticed without the ability to measure and analyse the wasted material.
The solution:
Data can effortlessly show which supplier has a greater rejected percentage. Appearing in the dashboard, the data will visually show problem areas, allowing customers to identify and act to reduce costs and become leaner. This could mean negotiating with the supplier for a better deal, and if they ask for proof, they can always be shown the data.
Problem 3: Human error
Companies will often process more than one type of product, and SORTEX is highly skilled at sorting different products, the problem is when operators forget to switch the mode accordingly to the product.
The solution:
Data outperforms human reliability. Bühler Insights provides a timeline of the mode selected, making it easy to track the issue and resolve it before too much good product is wasted.
While the agricultural world is still rooted on the ground, the digitalisation of agriculture is increasingly being seen as an ally in keeping fruits, vegetables, and potatoes high quality, clean and sustainably produced.
