Potato Optical Sorting Grading Line, TOMRA
TURNKEY POTATO
OPTICAL SORTING
Turnkey optical potato grading solutions featuring a collaboration between UK vegetable handling equipment manufacturer Tong Engineering, and Tomra, are enabling Norfolk based company Holkham Emerald to minimise labour requirements whilst increasing capacity and throughput across potato grading operations.
Custom built handling
Holkham Emerald, a leading name in the potato farming industry, has recently revolutionised its operations with the installation of a state-of-the-art potato grading line. Designed to enhance efficiency, reduce labour, and increase throughput, this bespoke solution seamlessly integrates the latest innovations from Tong Engineering and TOMRA Food.
The entire potato grading line has been tailored to meet the specific needs of Holkham Emerald. Tong Engineering designed and installed a custom-built handling system that optimises flow. The result is a seamlessly integrated setup that delivers enhanced throughput, allowing Holkham Emerald to process higher volumes with greater efficiency than ever before.
Advanced Technology
At the heart of the system is the advanced TOMRA 3A optical sorter, a powerful tool for accurately identifying and separating defects and foreign materials from large volumes of potatoes.
This cutting-edge technology ensures consistent grading quality while significantly reducing the time and labour required for manual inspection.
Complementing the TOMRA 3A is Tong Engineering’s E-Tip electrical box tipper. This next-generation tipping solution delivers smooth, automated handling of bulk potato boxes, minimizing the risk of damage to the crop.
The innovative sliding action of the lid delivers exceptionally gentle transfer of crop from the box to the machine’s forward conveyor, as well as ensuring seamless upward ejection of empty boxes for continuous operation and maximum performance.
The Complete Solution
This innovative solution highlights Holkham Emerald’s commitment to staying at the forefront of agricultural technology. By incorporating the TOMRA 3A optical sorter and Tong’s E-Tip electrical box tipper, the company has not only reduced its reliance on manual labour but also achieved higher levels of operational accuracy and productivity.
With this investment, Holkham Emerald is well-positioned to meet the growing demands of the potato market, ensuring their premium-quality produce reaches customers more efficiently and reliably than ever.
See TOMRA in action
The precision control and energy-efficient design not only streamlines the tipping process but also contributes to a more sustainable operation.
Find out more
FAQs
Optical sorting technology plays a crucial role in minimising food waste throughout the production process by enabling early defect detection and precise quality control.
Implementation of optical sorting systems has shown households can reduce their general waste by up to 65% after replacing old recycling methods
Advanced optical sorters with enhanced multispectral capabilities are forecast to enable industries to achieve a 30% reduction in waste
The return on investment for optical sorting equipment varies by application, but industry data demonstrates substantial financial benefits.
A single-stream MRF can achieve an overall payback period of 2.5 years after installing optical sorting equipment.
Generally, a payback period of one to three years is considered acceptable and a good investment for industrial equipment.
Modern optical sorter manufacturers can calculate the payback period precisely with clients based on their specific capacity and operational needs.
Our stores and service team are committed to offering our customers vital support when its needed most. Always on hand, with an out of hours emergency call-out service, our team of engineers offer the vital spares, service and onsite support you need to ensure downtime is kept to a minimum. We understand the need of growers and packers needing to maintain continuous throughput. This is a service we are happy to provide.