How to sort dry kibbles by color, shape, and more?
Just like the food we consume ourselves, animal feed is increasingly being monitored for quality and safety. As a producer, it is therefore essential to carefully inspect every piece before it is packaged. You naturally want to avoid non-consumable objects (such as metal, glass, etc.), as well as cases of cross-contamination (where different types or compositions of pieces threaten to end up in 1 batch).
To date, standard practice in pet food sorting is based on color differences only. However, to tackle current challenges and meet today’s requirements, additional sorting criteria have become a necessity. Factors like shape, size, texture, and composition have become essential, each playing a key role in product quality and consistency.
Optimum Sorting’s cutting-edge technology makes it all possible. Our state-of-the-art sorting machines detect and remove every unwanted element in a single pass with ease. This ensures maximum safety, outstanding quality, and complete peace of mind for producers as well as animal lovers.
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Which products can we sort?
Our sorting machines for pet food
Novus
Discover what true sorting precision looks like with Novus: our most flexible belt sorter. Using smart camera, laser, and metal detection technology, this machine gives you full control over your product flow. From color and shape to texture and even biological or magnetic characteristics, every product is examined and sorted with exceptional precision.
Technology made to fit your needs
Looking to sort your dry dog or cat kibble with precision and confidence? The Novus belt sorter is your go-to solution. With high-resolution cameras built in as standard, it effortlessly identifies even the slightest variations in color, shape, and size. Whether a kibble is too small, too large, broken, or off-color, it’s instantly detected and removed. This not only prevents cross-contamination during product changeovers but also ensures a consistently uniform final product; one that meets the highest standards and lives up to consumer expectations.
When external features aren’t enough, our laser technology maps the internal structure and composition of every kibble. Even when two pieces look identical, differences in texture or ingredient makeup can be detected with precision. Lasers also identify foreign materials such as wood, plastic, or glass with ease; even when their color blends into the product.
For those who demand the highest level of quality control, our optional M-TEC module offers a powerful upgrade. This advanced technology is capable of detecting metal particles as small as 1 millimeter (0,04 in), whether they are hidden inside or beneath a kibble. It ensures a final product that is visually flawless and completely safe for consumption, giving producers and pet owners complete confidence in every batch.
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Built for optimal sorting
Pinpoint imperfections with accuracy
Most image processing algorithms reduce the RGBi signal of a color camera from four to two dimensions, resulting in loss of valuable information. We make sure all signals, both from the cameras and from the different lasers, are interpreted simultaneously by means of our algorithms, resulting in a more accurate detection of foreign objects and defects, plus a lower risk of false detections.
Remove defects with precision
Precise defect detection is meaningless without an equally precise ejection system. Our air valves have a center-to-center distance of 7.5 mm (0.29 in), compared to the standard 10 mm (0.39 in). This means more valves can blow more effectively, enhancing ejection accuracy. Additionally, we offer a high-resolution valve system with a center-to-center distance of 5.25 mm (0.21 in) for specific applications.
Fine-tune with detailed data
Why not use the data recorded by the cameras to adjust your sorting process where necessary? An optional module filters this data to parameters of your choice (length-width ratio, shape, color, defect level, etc.) and makes them available to your operators in a clear numerical or graphical way, so that they can intervene if desired. This module sets the basis for automatic sorting through customized specifications.
Exceptional user-friendliness
Quick and easy calibration
Establishing acceptance thresholds can be a lengthy and complicated process. But with the systems of Optimum Sorting, it’s different. Your operators don’t have to deal with graphs or formulas. Our machines are able to calibrate themselves by using images of acceptable and unacceptable products.
Intuitive interface
Operating our sorting machines is incredibly simple, thanks to our user-friendly and intuitive graphical user interface (GUI). This interface is designed to ensure that your operators can effortlessly access and view all relevant information at a glance, making the entire sorting process smooth and efficient.
Remote control
Do you want to operate your sorting machines centrally? No problem. Our solutions can be easily integrated into your network, so your operators and supervisors can keep an eye on things from any network computer.
