Most advanced optical food sorting system
EU: Odenberg announces launch of advanced optical sorter 'Halo'
Called Halo, the new food sorter has one hundred times more processing power than ODENBERG’s industry-leading Titan sorting system and the market has shown great interest in this new development during the contacts at the show.
Halo also incorporates a next generation vision unit which integrates near infrared (NIR) spectrometry, charge-couple device (CCD) camera sensors and light-emitting diode (LED) illumination.
This combination is mounted above and below the system’s conveyor belt, enabling Halo to achieve unsurpassed levels of accuracy thanks to its ability to deliver an impressive 1mm resolution. The entire system is controlled by an intuitive touch screen to enable ease and flexibility of use.
Halo’s sorting applications cover a wide variety of fruit and vegetables including peeled and unpeeled potatoes, carrots, dried fruits, cucumbers, tomatoes, peaches, pears, berries and cucumbers.
Such is the demand for the new Halo sorter that 29 machine have already been ordered in 2011, with various systems ordered and installed ahead of the official European launch.
One of the first Halo purchasers was Primco, Europe’s largest carrot supplier. The company trialled two Halo 1000mm sorting systems, with a capacity potential of 25,000 kg per hour, earlier this year in a three-way sort configuration at its plant in France.
The results were immediate with a two third reduction in the amount of manual labour required and a potential ten percent capacity increase. When necessary, the Halo systems dealt with input defect levels of 40 to 50 percent with ease. Following the success of the trial, Primco ordered a further four Halo 1000mm optical sorters.
“With the purchase of the Halo we can achieve consistent quality, consistent end product quality with 4-5 people independent of the incoming quality of the produce. This means we don’t have to reduce our production when we have a batch with a high percentage of defects. The sorting solution offered by Odenberg has given us stability and flexibility in the running of our plant”. Guy Saint Lo, Operations Director, Primco.
Commenting on the introduction of Halo, ODENBERG’s marketing & business development manager, Sean Slevin, said: “Halo sets new standards in food sorting and represents the apex of our product range due to its outstanding levels of performance.
“The demand for Halo ahead of launch is extraordinary, but it is justified because in every instance that it has been specified and installed the system has delivered increased capacity, line cost reductions and lower error rates.
Founded in 1968, ODENBERG is a global market leader in the fresh and processed food sector. The company designs and supplies highly advanced optical sorters and graders, peeling systems and chilling-/freezing solutions.
Six of the world´s top ten global food companies are ODENBERG customers. The company’s systems are also used in the production of about 65 percent of all French Fries worldwide. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, ODENBERG also has offices in Slovakia, Italy, France, the Netherlands and the United States.
The company was acquired by Norway-based TOMRA Systems ASA, a leading global provider of advanced recycling solutions, in February 2011.
TOMRA Systems ASA has two divisions, TOMRA Sorting Solutions – which now includes ODENBERG and focuses on sensor-based technologies for sorting and process analysis – and TOMRA Collection Solutions which specialises in reverse vending, skip handling and compaction.
The acquisition has enabled TOMRA Sorting Solutions to combine its existing technologies with those of ODENBERG to create Halo to deliver new standards in food processing.
For further information visit www.odenberg.com