Key Technology has introduced the COMPASS family of food optical sorters. Powered by the latest inspection technology as well as a new sort engine and ergonomic user interface, COMPASS is an easy-to-use optical sorter on the market, achieving consistently accurate foreign material (FM) and product defect removal and simplifying system operations, sanitation and maintenance. COMPASS automates and improves quality management of manufacturers’ food products while maximising yield and increasing profitability.
“Optical sorting technology has developed significantly over the last decade. Until now, more advanced sorting capabilities meant a system that was also more complex to operate and costly to maintain. COMPASS is the first sorter that breaks that paradigm – it offers consistently high sort accuracy, a compelling ROI and significantly simpler and more intuitive operation than any other food sorting system,” said Jack Lee, Duravant Group president of food sorting and handling solutions. “Available alongside our industry-leading VERYX and ADR food inspection systems, COMPASS expands our product portfolio and ability to help each customer find the solution that is truly best for their needs.”
COMPASS is capable of sorting processed, frozen and pre-processed vegetables and fruits, nuts, leafy greens, potato chips, confections and other food products. With sensors and lighting technology, as well as Key’s new NEXT sort engine, COMPASS accurately identifies and separates plastic, glass, paper and other organic and inorganic FM from the line, in addition to sorting the specific product defects each processor wants to manage to deliver its customers the product quality grade they expect.
Key designed COMPASS for ease of use. Its user interface mimics the navigation of smart device apps and enables an operator without any technical background to quickly become proficient in using the sorter. Operators can quickly create and edit COMPASS sort recipes to ensure consistent performance on every product run.
COMPASS features Key Discovery, a data analytics and reporting software that turns the sorter into an IIoT-connected device, delivering a wealth of product quality and sort process information that gives food processors valuable insights into the operation of their line.
COMPASS is offered in a configurable range of system types and sizes to meet individual customer application and capacity requirements. Key is first introducing chute-fed COMPASS models, to be followed by belt-fed variants of the sorter. COMPASS can be installed in line at the start of the process to sort incoming product, after critical transformational processes on the line or at the end of the food processing line to ensure final product quality and safety prior to packaging.
