Optical sorting machine for washed potatoes

It was during Fruit Logistica in Berlin that machine builder Miedema was approached by Swiss Müller Azmoos from Weite. The consumption packer of carrots and washed potatoes was searching for the latest sorting technology in potatoes, ultimately ending up at Miedema’s stand. The latter, although not usually very active on this market, took on the project. The result: a customized optical sorting machine for washed potatoes.

Marcel Mulder: “As it turned out, Miedema’s knowledge of 'dirty' potato sorting could well be used for an optical sorting machine for washed potatoes.” According to Marcel, it even serves as somewhat of an advantage. "Sorting unwashed potatoes is much more difficult, especially so because with seedlings, quality is more important than quantity. This is why we developed our Smart Grader. Now, we have ‘translated’ this design to the washed potatoes in the consumer market. Volumes are a bit down, but the quality of our sorting is many times higher than with existing competitors."

Smart Grader becomes Industrial Line
Two companies in Liege and Heerenveen are using a machine by Miedema to sort washed potatoes, However, that is a different machine with only three outfeeds; this new machine has ten outfeeds. The machine now running in Switzerland is based on the sorter for the unwashed potato, the Smart Grader, and bears the name Industrial Line.

The basis of the machine and the built-in techniques are the same. The biggest changes are in the other requirements, that apply to crops products relative to the seed. "We have replaced some parts with components made out of stainless steel, the frame was galvanized, and sheet metal has now been treated with an additional coating. The conveyor belts are now blue. These adjustments are necessary because you work with food in a safe environment, but the basis of the machine is the same."

More information:
Miedema
Marcel Mulder
E: marcelmulder@miedema.com
W: www.miedema.com