Key Technology introduces its new three-way sorting capability on Manta.

Featuring two ejector systems, three-way sorting allows food processors to automatically eject product that can be reworked and recovered separately from material sent to waste, typically foreign material (FM).

Good product continues though the camera/laser sorter unaffected as usual.

This powerful new capability allows processors to produce a high quality finished product without losing recoverable off-grade product to the waste stream or requiring additional sorting expense to separately rework product.

Manta with three-way sorting is ideal for processors that want to remove foreign material as well as valuable off-grade product from their primary product.

For these processors, traditional two-way sorters require the reject stream be re-sorted using manual inspection or a second automated sorting system to recover valuable off-grade product.

Depending on the application, moving to three-way sorting can increase yields, reduce the risk of FM in finished product, reduce labor costs, and/or minimize capital equipment.

“With more than 20 installations worldwide, we’ve proven the effectiveness of Manta with three-way sorting for multiple applications,” noted Bret Larreau, Optical Product Manager at Key Technology.

“Green bean processors are using the three-way sort to remove FM with the first ejector and remove beans with remaining stems, which are subsequently re-snipped, with the second ejector. Potato processors are using the three-way sort to control for length. The second reject stream – for product that can be reworked and recovered – improves the quality of the pass stream, accepting only good product that matches product specifications.”