Above: A moment during the press conference presenting Unisorting technologies at Interpoma 2016. Below: Luca Montanari and Angelo Benedetti during the press conference.
With the creation of Unisorting Srl in 2016, Unitec (which ended 2016 with a turnover 15% higher than the previous year) acquired the pre-existing technologies of Longobardi Srl, Sammo Srl and Sado Srl, which are now part of its already wide range of processing lines.
"Through Unisorting, we would like to provide specialist responses even for those productions we are not already expert in, like apples. Thanks to its previous acquisition of Sammo, Longobardi had already developed machinery for this segment. We will start from this base and add Unitec's know-how concerning internal and external quality scanning techniques. The objective is to improve apple processing thanks to new parameters."
Unitec President, Angelo Benedetti, added that "apples are the most popular product in the world, so of course this is strategic for us. When talking about Unitec's know how, we mustn't forget that our group is the worldwide leader in the processing, sorting, grading and classification technologies for very delicate fruit such as cherries. This will contribute to making Unisorting solutions a valued ally to improve the processing of apples."
Luca Montanari stressed that Unisorting will develop all processing line components - mechanical, electric and electronical - as well as all sensors for the detection of external and internal fruit quality. In the case of apples, for example, it will be possible to identify the fruit that presents internal defects.
Apples Sort technology
In addition to traditional sorting parameters such as grade, colour and shape, this innovative system can also identify internal parameters such as damage to the flesh, hardness, Brix level or skin imperfections due to hail, bruising or diseases.
In addition, techonologies developed by Unisorting cover all processing phases - from the emptying of crates to washing, from waxing to labelling and from automatic packaging to palletisation, to name a few.
Below, a video of the Unisorting strapping machine mod. RGT5, which is also equipped with side compactors for an improved load distribution:
Loving the products to satisfy the clients
Angelo Benedetti also stressed Unitec and Unisorting's love for fresh produce and explained how it is the key to achieve results that can satisfy both producers and final consumers.
"We dedicate our complete attention to fruit and processing. Employing a technology that can respect the produce and sort it according to its use means providing useful information to both packing stations and final consumers - the former can better organise supplies, while the latter will not be disappointed with the product."
Sorting fruit according to its internal and external characteristcs also enables the supply of "personalised" fruit and achieves two important strategic objectives.
The first effect is a consistent reduction of waste, which can reach 10% in retail alone. The second effect would be that of enabling packing stations to develop new market strategies that meet specific consumer demands.
Unisorting is therefore a reliable tachnological partner oriented towards the future.
For further information: www.unisorting.com