One of the most meaningful steps forward is the high efficiency in the sorting of unwashed potatoes with Raynbow optical sorter. Raynbow was launched for the first time in the market in 2001 when Raytec was established, and it soon proved to be very effective for the tomato industry.
The technology of Raynbow has been so successful in tomato farms, that nowadays the largest tomato producers are using a Raynbow machine for tomato sorting. Rapidly, this machine was also applied to tubers like potatoes, onions, carrots, and fruits like apples, cherries, olives, and plums.
It is an optical sorting machine with high-resolution sensors that examine the product using the “high-speed double vision” system which analyses 100% of the surface of each product, and it is therefore particularly adapted for “rolling” products.
In 2021, the growing partnership with some of the largest potato producers allowed Raytec to perfect the application on unwashed potatoes, improving the machine’s performance. Raynbow is able to discard stones, soil clods, and green potatoes while being able to identify potatoes covered with soil.
“The success on unwashed potatoes has been so great – explains Gianluca Simonelli – which our client Felbermaier has become our brand ambassador, opening up important opportunities in the largest potato-producing countries”.
Hans Felbermaier, the owner of a family-run company based in Bayern, enthusiastically participated in a video listing all the benefits of installing Raynbow for his production.
Not only accuracy but money-saving (due to the reduced number of manual sorting personnel), and well-structured customer care. “The installation took only one day – says Felbermaier – and thanks to the remote connection, it is always easy to contact technicians and solve problems”.
Each sorting machine has its own user-friendly interface to monitor the machine’s performances and analyze waste in real-time.
Raytec introduced also the Raynbow R-270 at the 2021 edition of Intermpom in Belgium. This sorter is designed to fit high capacities (up to 55 t/h), and the 3WAY configuration drastically reduces waste by optimizing production and differentiating between A and B-series waste that can be collected and repurposed for other uses (such as becoming part of animal feed).
By autumn 2022, a 2.4-meter wide version will also be available to serve customers who need large hourly capacities.
