Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/491374
42 STiR tea & coffee industry international Cimbria Sea Chrome Satake Evolution 8 Buhler SORTEX B Xeltron 15XC Delta TCS3 Photos courtesy of Satake USA Since 1978, Texas-based Delta Technology Corporation has established itself as a respected manufacturer of sorting solu- tions, designing the equipment from the bottom up and pro- ducing their own metal works and components in-house. The i-IQ/TCS Trichromatic is a high production sorter that uses full color spectrum high-resolution RGB cameras and advanced col- or mapping to simplify adjustments, with options to suit small or large sorting needs. The i-iQ/CCD Monochromatic sorter is suited for robusta which are more recognizable by color, as well as arabica beans. This sorter's cameras create 8,000 scans per second, maximizing accuracy of detection and incorporates pneumatic ejectors produced with longevity and precision in mind. The company believes that the experience of their team of technicians helps them stay tuned in to current (and future) customer needs. "The added value…that Delta as a quality opti- cal sorter factory can give, is the efficiency and stability of the sorting, improving the quality of exportable products without sacrificing good product on the rejected one," said Alvarado Pineda, Representaciones del Istmo, Guatemala, a distributor of Delta in Mexico and Central America. Cimbria has established itself as a vital resource for custom- built processing, handling and sorting solutions. Founded in Denmark in 1947, Cimbria has become a worldwide presence in the sector. The company has developed a wide array of sorting equipment that is applicable to the needs of coffee. For example, Cimbria Dry Stoners use air flow and vibration to remove small stones, sticks, and metallic particles from the beans. As for opti- cal sorters, their SEA line is used across food lines and even for glass and in the recycling and mining industries. The SEA Next provides up to seven chutes and allows for resorting and as many as 28 cameras for monochromatic, bichromatic, InGaAs and Near-InfraRed (NIR) spectroscopy technology. The SEA Chrome trichromatic, also with up to seven chutes, can provide 0.1 mm resolution on differences in shades of color. It also al- lows users to establish what defect sizes the machine will eject and which it will ignore Satake USA, Inc., a subsidiary of Satake Corporation of Japan, also designs and manufactures optical sorters for agri- cultural products like cereals, grains, and rice, as well as plastic pellets. The company installed its first color sorting machine for green coffee in 1952 in South Africa and has been refining and advancing its systems ever since. "The biggest benefit (of high quality optical sorting equipment) is the higher percentage yield of exported coffee. A 2 or 3% yield increase quickly pays for the machine," says Johanna Bot, sales director of Satake's Latin America Vision Systems. She notes that while primary defects are the easiest to detect, the identification and removal of sour beans is far more difficult to do without significant losses. Sa- take's use of full color sorting and high speed air ejectors has advanced their progress toward a more efficient and economical sorting system. "The challenge will continue to be to replicate the human eye's ability to distinguish subtle color, shape, and texture dif- ferences, while reducing even further the amount of good beans rejected in this process," said Bot. Sorting the future Large objects like stones and sticks in the coffee supply can ruin machinery. Sour beans, light beans, and over-roasted beans can ruin the brewed cup. The defects that must be detected may change depending on where the coffee was grown, the require- ments of particular buyers and coffee type. Technologies that help producers isolate these problem beans and remove them carefully and precisely can result in coffee that is more appealing to con- sumers and, in the end, more financially valuable to producers. Photos courtesy of Buhler Group IMMATURE YELLOW FOXY (VINEGAR)