Compac has announced the development of new technology to overcome the traditional issues associated with grading and sorting cherries.
End View is the new cherry grading technology that utilises learnings from Compac’s Spectrim platform to improve outcomes for cherry-specific produce lines.
Due to their size and shape, cherries can be difficult to properly grade using existing cameras and technology. However, End View utilises new cameras and software to detect and grade nose and stem defects such as rain cracks and mildew, while keeping current production speeds.
Embracing innovative technology has become more important for cherry growers as newly planted trees continue to come into production, pressuring existing plant capacities. With changing weather patterns growers are also trying to reduce the impact of unseasonal rain events, which are the main contributor to previously undetectable nose cracks.
Compac CEO Mike Riley said the importance of sorting cherries accurately is imperative in protecting batches from spoilage and providing high-quality exportable products for international consumers.
“One bad cherry can ruin a box, he explained. 'Our customers rely on our technology to maintain the quality of their product and protect their reputation and brand.
“We’re always striving to be on the cutting edge of grading and sorting technology development,' Riley noted. 'As the fresh produce and agriculture sector continues to evolve, keeping up with demand and expectation will be key.”
The new End View solution also utilises Compac’s latest artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning capabilities. SmartMap and SmartSkin AI provides improved defect detection and categorisation, and ease of use.
Riley says Compac is dedicated to continual investment into cherries, directly improving performance and adding capabilities to advance yields and boost the quality of produce globally.
“We were receiving such strong global demand for a next generation cherry grading solution that we decided to accelerate our Inspection Systems roadmap to focus on this,' he added. 'We’re absolutely thrilled with the result and feedback from our development customers has been superb. We can’t wait to see this product in packhouses across the world.”
End View will officially be launched later this year at PMA Fresh Summit in New Orleans, with roll out to begin in 2018 across the globe.
