Food sorting

Ensuring safety and consistency in the delivery of food products to consumers is a must. Food inspection and sorting systems not only ensure this but can also boost efficiency and profit for companies who employ them in Food & Beverages (F&B) industries.

Numerous inspections can be carried out using infrared wavelengths and imagers. In food sorting systems, SWIR is used in the detection and removal of foreign contaminants, mainly for frozen fruits or vegetables. SWIR based sorting systems find contaminants by detecting differences in moisture content that may be difficult to spot in the visible spectrum.

When used hyperspectral imaging systems, one can determine the freshness of certain produce, or to spot defects such as cracks or bruises that may compromise the quality of the product. Other times they are used to determine the quality and grading of certain products, such as coffee beans from a plantation.

Lastly, within the sorting process, thermal imaging can also be used to obtain temperature readings in the preparation of food products, ensuring they are at the correct temperature during/before packaging or during transportation.