Each year at Fruit Logistica, Hall 4.1 of Messe Berlin is entirely dedicated to machinery. This year, MAF RODA Agrobotic presented several innovating calibrators, including the brand-new Berryway to calibrate blueberries and Cherryway 4 for cherries. Both calibrators were presented equipped with the latest electronic sorting systems of the external quality Berryscan and Cherryscan.
“Each calibrator is equipped with electronic sorting systems of nearly identical external quality,” explained Vicente Requena, of MAF RODA Agrobotic. “Each line has its own cameras. Each camera operates on several different wavelengths in infrared and in the visible spectrum. The combination of these different spectral data and the very high resolution of the cameras provide greater accuracy, namely for detecting the size of the fruits as well as analyzing external defects and the color of the fruits.”
Vicente adds that combined with Berryscan, the Insight system can control the internal quality of the fruits in an innovative way, by analyzing the sugar levels (BRIX degree) of the blueberries, for example.
Left: Cherryway 4 calibrator with Cherryscan electronic sorting module. Right: Berryway calibrator with Berryscan module.
Many possible combinations
These calibrators are capable of using the results from all the sensors to sort the fruits in many categories. Besides the external quality of the fruits (control for defects), the two machines also examine their diameter, color and shape, as well as the internal quality. All aspects of control can be combined depending on the requirements and criteria of the clients.
Pomone 125 calibrator with various sensors for electronic sorting, including Insight to control sugar levels (BRIX), acidity, dry matter and maturity.
Rotation system adapted to the cherry
The Cherryway calibrator is equipped with a rotation system adapted to the cherry with its Cherryscan optical sorting. This rotation system can scan 100% of the cherries’ surface.
Outputs of the Cherryway calibrator
MAF RODA Agrobotic also presented several packaging robots, such as the wrapping machine to package apples in recyclable trays. This automatic packaging equipment meets the increasing demand for eco-responsible packaging. The system makes it possible to package fruits in cardboard trays by placing a fixed paper strip by cold welding. The belt tension is adjustable depending on the number of fruits packaged and the 4, 6 or 8-fruit trays.
4, 6 or 8 apples per tray: anything is possible
Uniform trays
Fast Pack is another packaging robot used for pre-calibrated apples. The robot creates the most uniform trays possible, by placing the most colorful side up and the axes of the fruits in the same direction. A Fast Pack robot has already been installed at a customer in Great-Britain.
The robot from behind
The robot from the front
The trays coming out are as uniform as possible
A fifth machine proposed by MAF RODA Agrobotic is the Pomone 125 calibrator: a multi-fruit calibrator which sorts the fruits according to caliber and external quality, analyzed by Globalscan 7, and internal quality, measured by Insight for the maturity, dry matter and sugar levels (BRIX). The machine is suitable for bell peppers, long pears, mangoes, large onions and large avocados, along with other large products. Additionally, a robot that calibrates kiwis was recently installed in New Zealand. One goal of this robot is to reduce the handling of the fruits by hand, therefore ensuring maximum integrity for the product.
“This edition of Fruit Logistica 2020 came after completing a flourishing year for the MAF RODA group, which developed the industrial structures and equipment of several of its branches throughout the world,” explains Philippe Blanc, founder of MAF RODA.
"In South Africa with the transfer to new MAF RODA RSA facilities of 530 m², in Lleida (Spain) with a new 18,000 m² factory for the Cedis MAFRUT teams, in China where MAF RODA Machinery Yantai went from a structure of 3,000 m² to over 10,000 m², and finally in Chile where our branch MAF Chile integrated new resources in Santiago. Achievements which are meant to better respond to the increasing demand of the market, to offer customer service and better proximity to our clients all over the world.”
The Blanc family, owner of MAF RODA. (left to right): Stéphane Blanc (Chairman and CEO MAF Agrobotic - France), Thomas Blanc (General Director MAF SA - France), Christophe Blanc (General Director RODA IBERICA – Spain), Cyril Blanc (Director Electronic Service MAF Agrobotic - France), Philippe Blanc (Founder of MAF RODA Group) and Fabrice Blanc (General Director MAF RODA RSA – South Africa and Export Sales Director MAF Agrobotic – France)
For more information:
Christophe Nivet
MAF RODA AGROBOTIC
c.nivet@maf-france.com
www.maf-roda.com