▌ Solution Overview
Meatech's fresh fruit washing, sorting, and packing solution is designed for the consistency requirements of modern supermarket and export fresh fruit supply chains. Optical sorting technology evaluates each piece of fruit against defined colour, size, and defect specifications — at speeds of 5–15 tonnes per hour — and divides the stream into multiple grade lanes with measurably better consistency than human sorting. The solution covers citrus, apple and pear, mango, tomato, stone fruit, and kiwi, with equipment selection and sensor configuration matched to each crop.
▌ Process Flow — Stage by Stage
Stage 1 — Singulation & Gentle Washing
Incoming fruit is singulated onto the inspection conveyor at controlled spacing — allowing each piece to be individually evaluated by the sorting system. Brush and spray washing removes surface residues and field dust without bruising delicate fruit skins. Water temperature, brush pressure, and conveyor speed are configured for the specific crop — citrus tolerates more aggressive washing than soft stone fruit or mango.
Stage 2 — Drying & Optional Waxing
Surface moisture is removed by air-knife drying before optical inspection — moisture on the fruit surface scatters light in ways that confuse colour sensors and produce false defect readings. For retail markets that require a surface wax finish (common for apple, citrus, and mango retail export packs), a waxing machine applies edible wax coating before drying and inspection.
Stage 3 — Optical Sorting: Size, Colour & Defect Detection
Each fruit piece passes under multi-spectral cameras that capture colour, size, shape, and surface defect information simultaneously. The sorting algorithm compares each piece against the grade specification and activates the deflector at the appropriate point to divert the piece to the correct grade lane. Multiple output lanes — typically 4–8 — allow simultaneous separation of premium, standard, processing, and reject grades in a single pass. NIR spectroscopy modules can be integrated for internal quality measurement (Brix, juice content, internal browning).
Stage 4 — Automated Packing
Sorted fruit is counted or weighed into trays, punnets, or bags by automatic packing machines matched to the retail format. Checkweigher confirmation and automatic labelling complete the line.
▌ Solution Highlights
› Optical sorting applies consistent grade specification to every piece — eliminates hand-sorting variation
› Multi-spectral imaging — simultaneous colour, size, and defect detection in one pass
› 5–15 T/h sorting throughput — matches or exceeds full manual sorting team at consistent grade accuracy
› Compatible with citrus, apple, mango, tomato, stone fruit, and kiwi on same platform
› NIR internal quality measurement available — Brix, juice content, internal browning detection
▌ ROI & Commercial Value
Sorting labour saving | Optical sorter replaces 10–20 manual graders at equivalent or greater throughput |
Premium grade recovery improvement | Consistent grade boundaries recover more fruit into the highest-price grade tier |
Buyer complaint reduction | Consistent specification compliance reduces retailer quality deductions and returns |
Export compliance | Documented grade specification records meet importing country phytosanitary requirements |
Payback period | Typically 12–20 months at medium-to-large fresh fruit packing operation volume |
▌ Equipment in This Solution
› Infeed conveyor and singulation system
› Brush and spray washing machine — crop-specific pressure and temperature configuration
› Waxing machine (optional) — edible wax for retail surface finish
› Air-knife drying conveyor
› Multi-spectral optical sorting machine — colour, size, shape, defect; NIR option available
› Automatic tray, punnet, or bag packing machine
› Checkweigher and automatic labelling system
