Aweta continues installing its internal and external quality systems in an ever broader range of products.
Two new graders, with a total capacity of approx 40T/h have been installed in the new plant in Casi Aeropuerto in Almeria.
Casi is the largest tomato cooperative in Europe and the two graders, of a total of 14 lanes, are part of a large project that includes the complete automatization of the packing process, from the tomatoes arrival in the plant to the palletizing.
The two new graders replace two 18-year-old Aweta graders which were used in Casi until the last season.
External quality and color sorting
Aweta Advanced Vision 3D, external defect and color sorting is utilized to produce a more consistent product quality which will improve marketing and sales.
A highly sophisticated camera system combines images taken from different angles to create a full 3D image.
Aweta Advanced Vision 3D uses high definition digital cameras and LED technology to detect any given parameter of imperfection, eliminating the subjective opinion of the human eye and saving labor cost. This will result in a more accurate and consistent grading standard.
Internal quality sensor: Inscan- IQ
Inscan is a patented sensor for measuring non- destructive internal characteristics which determine the quality of the tomatoes. The Inscan sensor detects on each product passing the sensor important internal quality characteristics like sweetness [%Brix] ,s, maturity / firmness.
The IQA is sensitive to the tomato ripening stage.
The Inscan can be used to detect the soft tomatoes that cannot be detected by the color sorting.
Rollerstar grader
The two graders are the Rollerstar type. The Rollerstar is the latest development in Aweta’s technology in fruit and vegetable grading and sorting. It is the result of a combination of a modern, compact base unit together with a new patented weighing and handling singulator.
The Rollerstar carrier has been designed to be able to rotate products with a diameter of 40 - 110 mm at a maximum working speed of 15cups/s. The tomato remains in the same carrier during the phases of singulation, rotation under the quality sensors, weight and delivery to the exits. This enables the machine to analyze the product at the maximum speed and with the maximum quality.
The Rollerstar uses dual load cells and proprietary electronics and mechanics for high weight accuracy at high speed.
The chain mechanism has been designed with a pneumatic system, which will keep the chain properly tensioned at all times.
For more information, please visit www.aweta.nl