Albert Elligsen GmbH, a German packaging company that decided to purchase four QualityGraders this summer, will receive the 200th product. This family-run company has a solid reputation in the washed potato packing market, mostly serving German retailers.

To satisfy its customers’ high expectations, Elligsen sought out tested technologies that could precisely distinguish between different types of flaws and high-quality products. Furthermore, the business has been having more and more trouble hiring enough workers during busy times, further enhancing the allure of using the QualityGrader.

Thijs van der Torren, who represents Flikweert Vision in Germany, supported the purchase process of the QualityGraders.

“The client did extensive market research on different sorting machines, and traveled to the Netherlands several times to see the QualityGraders in action, among other machines,” he mentioned.

The machine has to be practice-ready for potatoes and have a minimum drop height. Elligsen ultimately decided on the QualityGrader. Four machines will be positioned side by side to ensure Elligsen’s processing capability.

The project will be integrated into an existing line by DT Dijkstra, a party Flikweert Vision enjoyed working with on several occasions. In close consultation, Flikweert Vision designed the new sorting line to create smart solutions that benefit the customer. Thanks to this setup, Elligsen will soon be able to keep the entire line running 24/7 with a smaller team, while maintaining high accuracy.

QualityGrader’s Strength

Initially, the QualityGrader was only used for unwashed potatoes, but this changed rapidly after its introduction for washed potatoes. Thanks to its compact design, the machine can be easily integrated into any sorting line. Additionally, through close collaboration with various system integrators, the manufacturer has repeatedly been able to meet the specific needs of its customers. Meanwhile, the continuous development of the machine has never ceased.

This past summer, the company’s engineers introduced the upgrade option for the QualityGraders. With the camera upgrade, the machines are now equipped with six cameras instead of three, ensuring that the product is always captured from at least two camera angles. This leads to a significant improvement, especially in detecting small defects. The computing power upgrade allows for a capacity of up to 20 tons per hour, while also ensuring the computers can process the extra data from the camera upgrade. These advancements have led to a strong increase in sales, both within the Netherlands and far beyond.

Multiple deliveries are scheduled for this fall to Germany, England, and France.

“We can use the new data from other regions to further develop the software. A larger database helps the machine recognize defects more quickly and accurately,” van der Torren concluded.

The company’s experts will continue to work hard toward their goal of fully automating the quality sorting of potatoes worldwide.