New Zealand’s esteemed fruit export company, Freshco, also known as the Fresh Fruit Company, has significantly enhanced the precision and efficiency of its apple grading process through the adoption of TOMRA’s Spectrim LUCAi® upgrade package. Since its establishment in 1989, Freshco has been a leading exporter of high-quality fruits and vegetables, with a steadfast commitment to meeting the rigorous standards of its global clientele.
The recent incorporation of the LUCAi upgrade package onto Freshco’s TOMRA Spectrim grading platform has had a transformative impact. This upgrade has enabled Freshco to effectively address challenging issues such as stem split and puncture defects with remarkable precision, and seamlessly transition between different apple varieties without the need for constant adjustments.
A pivotal feature of the LUCAi upgrade package is its Deep Learning models, which have been extensively trained with datasets from TOMRA machines worldwide. These meticulously labelled models, developed by TOMRA’s Data Science Team, empower the Spectrim X to analyze thousands of high-resolution fruit images per second and make precise grading decisions. This advanced technology excels in identifying and categorizing intricate apple defects, including stem splits and punctures, across a diverse range of varieties.
According to Robin Mudgway, Freshco’s Technology and Machinery Manager, “The main defects are around the stem area. The splits are really hard to get around the stem, and you’re forever working on the splits and punctures.” Mudgway emphasizes the simplicity of integrating LUCAi models into their operations, allowing for customization of severity and confidence levels based on their specific requirements.
Glen Kaunds, TOMRA Food Senior Application Engineer, underscores the seamless transition between apple varieties enabled by Spectrim with LUCAi. “You can use a model that is doing stem split and stem punctures, for example, on Gala apples. Then you can move to another variety that has the same defect and it just works. You don’t have to make any adjustments to it.”
Furthermore, the LUCAi upgrade empowers customers to easily adjust grading parameters to accommodate seasonal variations and market preferences. This capability, previously reliant on experienced operators, is now accessible through a user-friendly interface, providing a more comprehensive overview of the grading process.
In the words of Mudgway, “The new User Interface is really beneficial for tracking grades. You can see more data and when you make changes, you can see the percentage change you’re making. The return on investment is a no-brainer because your production’s not slowing down.” This sentiment underscores the significant value and efficiency gains brought about by the Spectrim LUCAi upgrade.
For further information on TOMRA’s food sorting solutions, including the Spectrim LUCAi upgrade, readers are encouraged to contact Michelle Haynes at TOMRA Food via email at [email protected] or visit the official website at www.tomra.com/food.