Product category:
Optical sensors and vision systems
News Release from: Key Technology | Subject: Frigemo ADR4
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 07 March 2008
Automatic defect removal - in French
fries
Quality is a top priority at Frigemo, the Swiss food processor that manufactures French fries for McDonald's: Frigemo applies a Key ADR4 Vis/IR camera system to remove defective potato slices
To consistently match product quality to specifications, Frigemo relies on ADR 4, an automatic defect removal system for potato strips from Key Technology ADR 4 inspects the Frigemo French fries and automatically cuts out defects, optimising quality and productivity
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 20 Jul 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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"At Frigemo, we have very high standards and a long standing reputation for quality," noted Jurg Habegger, Frigemo Board Member.
Combining high-resolution Vis/IR cameras, a patented belt conveyor, a patented rotary cutter, and Iso-Flo high-speed vibratory conveyors, ADR 4 aligns, singulates, inspects, and trims potato strips with unparalleled precision at the rate of 13,500pounds (6tons) per hour.
It eliminates manual inspection and trimming, and improves cutting accuracy and good product recovery, which has led Frigemo to experience an impressive 12-month payback on ADR 4.
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Leveraging the Key G6 electro-optical foundation, ADR 4 offers the most sophisticated image processing in the industry.
A powerful new controller, modular vision engine, and trichromatic cameras combine more pixels and faster scan rates to achieve more complex and robust inspections, which is important to Frigemo.
Operating five production facilities, including the largest potato processing plant in Switzerland, Frigemo produces over 45,000tons of product per year and has earned a 58% market share of the Swiss market for French fries.
At Frigemo, ADR 4 handles potato strips from thin shoestring through to thicker (12mm+) fries, minimising white cuts and maximising recovery.
High-performance trichromatic Vis/IR cameras with red, green and infrared channels accurately identify green defects based on visible light and differentiate between potato peel and brown defects such as bruises and rot using infrared sensors.
These Vis/IR cameras enable the ADR 4 to detect and remove a wide range of defects on both peeled and peel-on potato strips.
With its LED light source and air-actuated knives, ADR 4 enhances performance and reduces maintenance.
Compared to fluorescent lights used on other defect removal systems, LEDs produce a more stable light over a much longer period of time.
This consistent light source improves inspection accuracy while the LED longevity nearly eliminates lighting maintenance.
Compared to water-activated knife systems that produce considerable wear on the valves, the air-activated knife actuation on the ADR 5 cutter-wheel improves cutting accuracy while enhancing reliability and further reducing maintenance.
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