Quelen Fruit, a leading Chilean nut processor, relies on TOMRA Food’s advanced sorting technology to optimise their walnut production.
After analysing its objectives and discussing them with the TOMRA team, Quelen Fruit decided to integrate two NIMBUS and one GENIUS, installed in cascade, into its sorting process. “Focusing on sorting out defects, colour and shape, we found the perfect formula. By adding double aspiration of the shell and septum at each of the input hoppers on the line has allowed us to achieve optimal performance,” adds Carlos Sánchez.
Step-by-step solutions to meet each objective
TOMRA offers a range of solutions that, combined, optimise the nut processing line. The standout benefits include the high efficiency of the process, significant cost reduction, and high productivity. “The current configuration, with three TOMRA units in cascade has allowed us to reach 2,700 kilograms per hour, which was the goal we had set ourselves. Of this throughput, 98% is finished product, but we don’t throw anything away. The discarded material is packaged in another type of category that is of interest to specific customers. There is a destination for all our products,” he explains.
Counting on TOMRA is an advantage, a reference in Chile and abroad. “The truth is that, when a customer who understands processes, visits us and sees the TOMRA brand, they are reassured knowing that the product is in good hands,” says Carlos Sánchez.
As for the process, the product first passes through a 1200mm-wide NIMBUS sorter with BSI+ technology. This unit detects the biometric characteristics of the nuts and their defects and sorts them based on these clearly distinguishable patterns. The advanced technology BSI module detects even smaller defects than conventional spectral imaging technology and improves sorting quality by retaining almost all of the accepted product, resulting in a better quality of the final product. This solution also reduces the number of passes required and the amount of product breakage. The sorter detects and eliminates foreign matter, such as sticks, stones and glass, as well as the shell and septum of the nuts (the tissue that separates the two halves inside the shell). It also detects and discards structural defects, such as dehydrated and rancid nuts.
The nuts then pass through a second NIMBUS, also 1200mm wide. This machine sorts the nuts by colour, distinguishing the extra light and light, which are of the best quality. Nuts that are somewhat darker in colour (amber or light amber) are assigned to second quality product. The dark or black nuts are assigned to a third quality level that can be sold to other customers for other uses or applications.
Finally, the product goes through a GENIUS machine (again 1200mm wide), which receives the fairly clean nuts. It carries out a final inspection to reject any remaining foreign material and focuses on sorting by shape, separating the nut halves from the quarters, thirds, and incomplete nuts. Every part of the walnut can be sold, supplying different parts to different clients.
“In addition to their advanced technology, I would like to highlight TOMRA’s excellent service. You can always count on them, both for training our team and to resolve any unforeseen issue. Based on my experience, I recommend the brand without hesitation. With TOMRA we significantly reduced the need for manual sorting, which is truly useful for those of us working on the process,” concludes Carlos Sánchez.
