At BerryBrothers, berries of all shapes and sizes are the stars of the show. This Dutch family-run business has grown into a global player and employs over 450 people across multiple locations. Sorting large volumes of berries by hand is a thing of the past… For this reason, BerryBrothers opted for the innovative Magnus sorting machine from Optimum Sorting. Jonathan, Area Sales Manager at Optimum Sorting, visited BerryBrothers at their headquarters in Roggel (the Netherlands), to see firsthand how the Magnus sorter has been integrated into their production line.
Leading the way in soft fruit
“BerryBrothers specializes in growing, packaging, and selling premium soft fruits. Their journey began in the 1980s on a small plot in the Betuwe region of the Netherlands. Brothers Jan and Albert van Zuilen started by growing strawberries, raspberries, and red currants. By the 2000s, they expanded their range to include blackberries and blueberries.”
“As BerryBrothers continued to grow, they opened a new 2,750 m² production and storage facility in Roggel in 2018. This expansion resulted in increased production volumes and new challenges. Sorting freshly picked berries by hand became impractical, requiring innovative solutions. It was during this quest for optimization that Optimum Sorting came into play.”
Automating the sorting process
“BerryBrothers is dedicated to providing top-quality fruit year-round. This involves sorting large volumes of berries daily with great precision. Rotten berries, unripe fruit, or fragments of plastic, wood, and cardboard must be excluded. Accurately sorting all this fruit is often very labor-intensive and expensive. Additionally, finding suitable personnel for the task is becoming increasingly challenging. As BerryBrothers grew, so did the necessity for an automated production and sorting system.”
Efficiency and accuracy: the Magnus belt sorter at work
“After the first contact with Optimum Sorting, the decision to go with the Magnus belt sorter was made quickly. Its innovative design makes this machine perfect for processing soft fruits like blueberries, cranberries, cherries, and so on.”
“To process this type of fruit down to the smallest details, the Magnus is equipped with both camera and laser technology. The high-resolution cameras analyze the products on the sorting belt based on their color and shape. This allows twigs or green, unripe berries to be easily detected. The lasers on the other hand examine the structure of the product, spotting e.g. shrivelled berries. With a resolution of up to 3,333 scans per second, they achieve this with exceptional precision.”
“Finally, 64 air valves accurately remove unwanted material from the sorting belt. With the Magnus machine, BerryBrothers can now process their berries more precisely and quickly than ever before.”
Prioritizing user-friendliness
“When looking for a partner, BerryBrothers had several criteria in mind. Ease of use was crucial: the sorting machine needed to combine advanced technology with user-friendly functionalities. Optimum Sorting’s unique AI-based software makes this possible, enabling operators to configure and command the machine effortlessly via the interface.”
“Another notable benefit of the Magnus is its size. Measuring 264.5 cm (104 in) in length and 141 cm (55 in) in width, it has an exceptionally small footprint. his means you can seamlessly and swiftly incorporate it into your existing production line without sacrificing much space. This unique feature distinctly sets the Magnus belt sorter apart from the competition.”
Maximum availability and reliability
“In addition to its ease of use and small footprint, the accessibility of Optimum Sorting’s service also played a significant role. Our support team is on call 24/7 and can remotely log into the machine’s interface. If an unexpected problem arises, our service engineers can quickly step in without needing to travel. This unique and fast approach ensures the continuity of your production line.”
“The Magnus sorting machine helps BerryBrothers save on manual labor and sort berries with greater precision than the human eye could achieve. This results in lower costs, decreased waste, and superior product quality – all with the help of Optimum Sorting.”
Interested in a free demo?
Get in touch with the sales team of Optimum Sorting and have your soft fruit tested at one of our demo centers around the globe.
Experience firsthand the benefits our machines can bring to your business!
