SormaTech, Italian company Sorma Group’s proprietary optical sorting machine, now features a further technological advancement, the group has revealed.
The research and development centre run by the group’s Spanish subsidiary, Sorma Ibérica, has developed the HyperVision platform, a cutting-edge, multi-wavelength lighting solution that Sorma says offers superior fruit sorting and a high level of efficiency.
HyperVision can analyse up to 15 pieces of fruit per second, compared to an average of 12 for other solutions on the market.
Thanks to the SormaTech Hyper-Map system, up to 2,160 images are processed for every analysed piece of fruit.
The result is a 360-degree view of the surface of the fruit, which makes it possible to detect, classify and counteract the smallest imperfection.
“Consumers, when they see that one or more pieces of fruit inside the pack are damaged, may not proceed with the purchase,” explained Daniele Severi, director of the technology division of Sorma Ibérica. “These new technologies demonstrate Sorma Group’s commitment to tackling food waste. It’s therefore not just a question of production efficiency, but also of ethics.”
Using SormaTech’s deep learning algorithms and nine cameras for each sorting line – three colour cameras and six NIR cameras featuring digital Ultra-HD technology with superior optics – HyperVision simultaneously analyses every point of the fruit’s skin over the entire bandwidth of visible and invisible light, guaranteeing accurate grading.
“The platform acquires and analyses superimposed hyperspectral images in both the visible region and NIR for each piece of fruit that rotates under the inspection system,” Severi continued. “This ensures the most accurate selection based on internal and external quality, colour and shape.
'Thanks to its technology, HyperVision makes it possible to discard fruit with over-ripe areas that cannot be detected by normal vision, enabling fruit and vegetable companies to organise export plans to international markets with full product quality assurance, even after several days’ travel.”
In addition to boasting 'superior accuracy and speed' compared to any other platform previously available on the market, HyperVision is also distinguished by its use of the Linux operating system, which is described by Sorma as “faster, safer and more virus-proof” than other systems.
Moreover, Sorma said it guaranteed long-lasting performance and privacy, as it does not collect data.
The group said that HyperVision was also easy to use – thanks to the InstanDefect interface, the user can modify and customise the defect detection options for fruit selection by simply moving a cursor.
The new platform is already available on the global market and is “receiving great acclaim”, according to Sorma.
“HyperVision is the result of the adoption of the best existing technologies and a continuous dialogue between Sorma and operators,” noted Andrea Mercadini, CEO of Sorma Group.
“Our goal is to develop projects that meet concrete needs, including in the post-collection segment, where we can now offer a unique service,' he added. 'Not surprisingly, HyperVision was a great success right from the start of testing; it represents another step forward in technological innovation and the fight against waste.”
