TOMRA Food is part of the TOMRA Group, a Norwegian multinational founded in 1972 based on an innovative idea that began with the design, production and sale of deposit return machines (DRMs) for the automated collection of used beverage containers. Today, there are more than 12,800 units installed worldwide in producers, packers and processors of confectionery, fruit, dried fruit, cereals and seeds, potatoes, proteins, nuts and vegetables.
The company designs and manufactures sensor-based sorting machines and integrated post-harvest solutions that transform global food production to maximize food safety and minimize food waste. These solutions include advanced grading, sorting, peeling and analytical technology that help improve profitability and achieve greater operational efficiencies, and ensure a safe food supply.
In terms of solutions, TOMRA Food is a leader in post-harvest development for cherries, due to the efficiency of execution in all important tasks on the line: input, classification, calibration, filling, packaging and product traceability.
«When cherries arrive at the processing plant, TOMRA Food solutions start with loading systems at the start of the line. The Cascade Singulator then separates the stems using gentle handling and efficient separation using a non-motorized water system that slows the water flow between each separation.", said Benedetta Ricci, Global Category Director for Cherries at TOMRA Food.
Ricci added that "For sorting and grading, TOMRA Food offers InVision 2 with Total View Plus, the only inspection technology available that can see 100% of the fruit, at full production speed, with no blind spots. Cherries are sorted in different flows by product size, according to industry standard size bands, by color and defects, including hardness, general defects and non-homogeneous colored product.«.
It should be noted that the company also has automated solutions for packaging fruit of different quality for different markets. The filling system CURE, available with 2, 8, 12 and 16 filling stations, ensures homogeneous and fast filling with the precise weight and the flexibility to easily change between a wide variety of containers (clamshells, punnets, and 1.2 and 5 kg boxes).
«Our most innovative solution is the KETE16, which automates the process of placing punnets and clamshells in boxes, trays and drawers. It has the advantage of being able to pick up and place clamshells on the tray in a way that avoids the dangers associated with traditional suction systems.", argued the brand representative.
On the other hand, Benedetta Ricci also had words to refer to the advantages that TOMRA Food has over other companies in the sector, stating that: «There are many reasons why we are the market leader. TOMRA's unique dynamic line balancing technology enables up to 10-15 % more capacity per line compared to other systems. At a plant in Chile, for example, TOMRA cherry lines are running at an average capacity of 670 kg/h per line, compared to the industry standard of 400 kg/h per line.«.
Along the same lines he added that, "Compared to other sorters, the TotalView cameras are positioned at lower inspection angles and closer to the fruit. The higher quality images improve the detection of tip breakage, stem mould and cuts. In addition, the TOMRA SFS (Small Fruit Sorter) treats cherries more gently than other technologies available on the market, employing a series of patented systems that transport the cherries in water all the way to the camera for inspection.«.
The company has also taken steps to strengthen technical support and improve the speed of customer response in cherry-growing areas. This support includes sending a team of experts to the largest cherry-growing areas around the world, allowing them to work closely with processors and share experiences to overcome their challenges. This deep understanding of the segment helps TOMRA Food to refine its solutions and inspires the design and development of new solutions.
That’s why when a company invests in solutions offered by TOMRA Food, it quickly becomes clear that it has made the right choice. Combining global R&D leadership with local presence and a customer-centric approach, TOMRA enables cherry processors to be assured of receiving the right operational training and technical support to ensure that their machines perform at their best with the least possible downtime.
Finally, regarding TOMRA Food's participation in Smartcherry platforms, the Global Director of the Cherry Category argued that, "Through a platform like Smartcherry, which brings together the main players in this thriving industry in Chile, we want to present our most innovative solutions for the cherry segment and demonstrate how our cutting-edge technologies can help improve and optimize customers' production processes.«.
«Chile is the world's leading producer of cherries and we want to expand our presence in a market that is a priority for TOMRA, where we have had two regional offices for Latin America for two years, one in Santiago and one in Chillán. Our customers, who have chosen to invest in TOMRA technologies, are attesting to the great benefits obtained by using our solutions, and we would like to support the efforts of other cherry processors in the region to boost their exports to China and other major markets.«concluded Benedetta Ricci.
