The new line contains a number of world first innovations such as intelligent Compac Flow Control, which uses automated systems to control the distribution of cherries across the sorter, keeping cup-fill high and the line operating at peak efficiency. Each flume conveys cherries away from sorter at 1.5 tons each hour and due to their design gently merge exiting cherries into the flow of fruit, reducing fruit-on-fruit contacts. Compac’s advanced InVision 9000 blemish sorting platform, provides top and side views taking 30 images of each cherry to accurately sort for softness, bruising, spurs, cracks and doubles makes this line the most hi-tech cherry line ever installed.
The Compac Small Fruit Sorter for cherries has been designed from the ground up to be both gentle enough to run delicate varieties such as Rainier and Royal Anne, yet also efficient enough to give labour savings of more than 50% and represents the perfect blend of high capacity and the most gentle handling available to ensure all cherries make it to their packs without damage whilst being correctly sorted.
“This installation is packed with innovations to give Prima Frutta both the greatest savings in terms of labour and also the most value add when it comes to improving their final packed product” says David Buys, Compac Sales & Marketing Director. “ We worked very closely with Prima Frutta on this project and we’ve met their goals and expectations for the season here in California and look forward to showing the industry what we can do in Washington State over the coming weeks”.
Compac has entered the cherry market with new innovations and technologies. “The technology which keeps people in the market always changes and we know that” says Buys “We’ve got a reputation for innovative solutions and delivering value, it’s about who can give the market the best value solution. With our track record in other commodities in more than 40 countries we’re confident our technology package will provide the best value to our customers”.
The next Compac Small Fruit Sorter to become operational is another joint project with Van Doren Sales, based in Washington State which will become operational during the coming cherry season. A further sorter has been ordered by a customer in Chile based on the success of the Prima Frutta project. This installation will become operational in October 2013, ready for the Southern Hemisphere cherry season.
The Sambado family have been growing cherries in California’s San Joaquin Valley since 1947. After establishing a reputation for growing and selling top quality produce A. Sambado & Son expanded into packing their own fruit for market. In 1992 Prima Frutta and Van Doren Sales teamed up to develop their first cherry sorting line with three more lines following. Due to the adoption of cutting edge technology Prima Frutta is regarded as an industry leader in the packing and marketing of apples and cherries.
In 2010 Compac was engaged to retrofit an existing cherry sorter installed at Prima Frutta with a new Compac InVision system. This system significantly improved Prima Frutta’s ability to grade their cherries for color, size and shape, whilst increasing the throughput of their facility. In 2011 Compac was also commissioned to design and install two 5-lane MLS sorters with InVision 9000 for defect sorting to upgrade and expand Prima Frutta’s apple facility.
Based on the strong relationship between the companies Prima Frutta again engaged Compac and Van Doren Sales to undertake an ambitious project, a complete line which would grade 50,000 cherries every minute by size, shape, color, softness and surface defects. Working with partners Van Doren Sales and Fruit Handling Systems with A&B Packing providing final packing equipment.
While the line is designed for high speed bin dumping of firmer varieties such as Bing, Stella and Lambert; the line also boasts the capability to safely run delicate varieties such as Rainier and Royal Anne.
With the most advanced blemish sorting technology available to the industry underpinned by high quality and durable construction this installation gives Prima Frutta a significant increase in throughput and the levels of accuracy and consistency of their graded product.
Compac’s Small Fruit Sorter was recognised at the Bayer Innovator Awards 2012 with a highly commended in the hardware product category.
Compac sorters are able to sort produce based on their weight, size, shape, color and surface blemishes. Compac sorters use digital cameras and software developed by Compac to analyze the produce and deliver it to the packing areas within the packhouse.
Compac also provides traceability solutions to packhouses where produce can be tracked from its orchard block across the packing line and into bags, while records are stored for recall.
