Key Technology to Showcase Systems for Fresh and Processed Potatoes at Interpom 2022


Key Technology, a member of the Duravant family of operating companies, is exhibiting their Herbert OCULUS whole potato sorter and showcasing their range of other high-performance solutions for fresh and processed potatoes and vegetables in booth #257 at Interpom in Kortrijk Expo, Belgium, Nov 27-29, 2022. Providing advanced optical sorters, specialized vibratory conveyors and other process automation systems, along with world-class customer service, Key helps processors and packers improve food safety, optimize product quality, increase yield, reduce labor and enhance line efficiencies.

“At Key, we have a long history as a trusted partner to potato processors worldwide, applying our deep industry expertise to deliver innovative and reliable solutions that address the most pressing production challenges of the day,” said Antoine van Bree, President, Key Technology – EMEIA and Asia. “With extreme weather hurting the quality and quantity of harvested crops, it’s become imperative that processors get as much good food as possible from farmers to consumers. We give food processors the tools they need to produce the quality products that consumers expect, despite fluctuations in incoming product, all while maximizing yields and reducing operating costs. Our mission is to help feed the world safely while minimizing food waste.”

HERBERT OCULUS WHOLE POTATO SORTERS

Key’s Herbert OCULUS digital sorters for whole potatoes identify and remove potatoes with diseases and defects, as well as potatoes outside the specified length and width profile, if desired. To inspect the size, shape, color and surface texture of every tuber, Herbert OCULUS conveys the product over a series of rollers that provide a complete 360-degree view of each potato to the color cameras. Compared to traditional cascade sorters, Herbert OCULUS achieves 20 percent more surface inspection to improve sort accuracy. The low drop points ensure gentle handling, minimizing damage to protect product quality.

VERYX® POTATO STRIP SORTERS

Ideal for wet and frozen potato products as well as a variety of vegetables and more, Key’s advanced VERYX digital sorters remove defective product and foreign material (FM) to ensure product quality while virtually eliminating false rejects. When equipped with Sort-to-Grade software, VERYX categorizes every surface defect, as well as strip length if applicable, and makes each accept/reject decision based on how it will impact the product grade to ensure final product specifications are met while increasing yields. VERYX’s Key Discovery software collects, analyzes and shares data to reveal patterns and trends that improve sorting and help control upstream and downstream processes.

ADR® AUTOMATIC DEFECT REMOVAL SYSTEMS

Key’s ADR automatic defect removal system for potato strips is the only vision system on the market that cuts out defects from french fries to turn ‘bad’ strips into ‘good’ ones, directly increasing yield.

VIBRATORY CONVEYORS AND ROTARY GRADERS

Key’s vibratory, horizontal-motion and belt conveyors – including Iso-Flo®, Impulse®, Marathon® and Zephyr™ – transfer, feed, align, grade, dewater, scalp, distribute or handle other tasks throughout potato processing and packing lines, from whole potatoes at receiving to feeding packaging machines. Rotary size graders and other mechanical systems separate either whole potatoes or potato products by length or diameter while removing select FM.

About Key Technology, Inc.

Key Technology is a global leader in the design and manufacture of automation systems including digital sorters, conveyors and other processing equipment. Applying processing knowledge and application expertise, Key helps customers in the food processing and other industries improve quality, increase yield and reduce cost. Key manufactures its products in Walla Walla, Washington, USA; Redmond, Oregon, USA; and in Beusichem, the Netherlands. Key offers customer demonstration and testing services at five locations including Walla Walla and Beusichem as well as Hasselt, Belgium; Sacramento, California, USA; and Melbourne, Australia; and maintains a sales and service office in Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico. Key is a Duravant Company. For more information, visit www.key.net.

About Duravant

Headquartered in Downers Grove, IL, Duravant is a global engineered equipment company with manufacturing, sales and service facilities throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Through their portfolio of operating companies, Duravant delivers trusted end-to-end process solutions for customers and partners through engineering and integration expertise, project management and operational excellence. With worldwide sales distribution and service networks, they provide immediate and lifetime aftermarket support to all the markets they serve in the food processing, packaging and material handling sectors. Duravant’s market-leading brands are synonymous with innovation, durability and reliability. For more information, visit www.duravant.com.

 

Reader Inquiries:
Buffy Hagerman
Key Technology
150 Avery Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362 USA
Tel: +1 509 540 7415
bhagerman@key.net
www.key.net

 

Lene Boes
Key Technology
Bedrijfsstraat 6b
B-3500 Hasselt, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0) 11 24 91 91
lboes@key.net
www.key.net