Leading designer and manufacturer of process automation systems Key Technology has introduced Manta, a new state-of-the-art high-volume, high-performance sorter featuring a two-meter wide scan area that dramatically increases throughput within a space-saving footprint. Handling up to 27 metric tones of processed vegetables or fruit per hour, Manta offers high resolution scanning to detect and remove the smallest defects and foreign material.
Designed for exceptional versatility and superior sanitation, this innovative sorter increases production capacity while maximizing product quality and food safety. With the highest number of sensors and image processing modules of any sorter on the market, Manta maintains the high resolution of the finest narrow-belt sorters on its wider, higher capacity frame. Key can configure Manta with up to eight top-mounted color or Vis/IR (visible infrared) cameras and up to two top-mounted FluoRaptor fluorescence-sensing lasers. Optional bottom-mounted sensors can be added to meet the specific needs of each application. Extreme modularity allows Manta to be easily reconfigured in the field, which enables processors to confidently select a camera/laser arrangement today knowing that the sorting system can grow if their needs change.
Using Key’s proprietary color cameras, Manta recognizes each object’s size and shape as well as millions of subtle color differences to remove defects based on user-defined accept/reject standards. Adding FluoRaptor to Manta expands the sorter’s inspection capabilities by reliably detecting foreign material (FM) and extraneous vegetable matter (EVM) based on differing levels of chlorophyll. Combining color and laser sorting on one platform provides the most comprehensive sort available today.
Bret Larreau, processed vegetable and fruit industry marketing manager at Key Technology, said: “Bonduelle, one of the largest vegetable processors in Europe, has purchased a Manta to be installed in early 2008. Its Manta sorter will be configured to handle a range of vegetables including peas, multiple varieties of beans, multiple forms of carrots, and also potatoes, turnips, and more.
“Every customer that has seen Manta in operation in our test facility has been impressed with its performance, simplicity and ease of use. We are excited that, in addition to Bonduelle, we have multiple Manta sorters being installed in various plants around the world for the upcoming 2008 processing season.”
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