Optimum Sorting Introduces Laser-Based Detection for Wet Rot in Potatoes
Optimum Sorting, the Belgian developer of high-tech sorting systems, has introduced a breakthrough laser configuration capable of detecting wet rot in potatoes — a challenge that has long troubled processors.
“With our VENTUS, we can now even detect wet rot in potatoes, while our NOVUS does the same with tiny metal particles in French fries,” said Alexander Dewilde, the company’s agent for Belgium and France.
The company has more than 800 optical sorting machines operating worldwide, with the NOVUS belt sorter among its flagship models for potato products, nuts, and vegetables. The system can be equipped with up to nine high-resolution cameras that detect color deviations, shape anomalies, and size differences, while a laser box with 0.3-millimetre resolution — currently the highest on the market — identifies foreign material.
A recent enhancement, the M-TEC module, brings ultra-fine metal detection directly into the sorter’s frame. The add-on can be retrofitted and provides an additional control point before packaging. “Metal particles are not always visible to cameras or lasers,” said Dewilde. “Many factories already use metal detectors at the check-weigher, but this early-stage control offers crucial advantages.”
Optimum Sorting has also refined how its systems capture the “sixth side” of French fries — the surface that typically rests on the conveyor belt. Traditional lower-side cameras often face contamination from starch, leading to false readings or maintenance interruptions. “We now have a solution,” Dewilde explained. “The camera looks through a rapidly rotating glass. Any dirt is immediately thrown off, so you always have a clear view.” The design, inspired by maritime applications, is already in use by a French customer.
The company’s newest innovation, however, lies in its ability to identify wet rot — a problem that often forces processors to reject entire potato batches during wet seasons. Once washed, infected potatoes can be almost indistinguishable from healthy ones. “Cameras can’t see the difference. Our new laser configuration can,” Dewilde said.
Processors can request free demonstrations of Optimum’s sorting technologies at the company’s demo centre in Hasselt, Belgium.
