A CANADIAN seed potato producer has invested in a new Dutch sorting machine which is the first the manufacturer has installed in North America.
Creek Side Potatoes in central Alberta is a family business which grows several varieties across hundreds of hectares and supplies throughout Canada and the United States.
It recently invested in an Optica Q machine produced by Tolsma-Grisnich.
The Mooij family which runs the business required a machine that could handle high capacities with gentle handling. It also required a soft drop to prevent potato damage and a double discharge system that enabled flexible sorting in a single pass.
The optical sorter has been integrated into the existing sorting line and specialists are able to log into the machine remotely from the Netherlands or from new local office in Alberta.
While four or five manual handlers were previously required for sorting operations, only one person at the picking table is now required. The machine sorts up to 20 tons of seed potatoes per hour.
The machine stays current with the latest software updates from Optica Q units worldwide and enables separation of undersized potatoes from clods, stones, and other irregular items.
Source: Tolsma-Grisnich / Fresh Plaza
