Key Technology recently introduced its new COMPASS® family of food optical sorters. Powered by next-generation inspection technology, a new sort engine, and an ergonomic user interface, COMPASS is easy to use, achieves consistently accurate foreign material (FM) and product defect removal, and simplifies system operation, sanitation, and maintenance. COMPASS is designed to help processors automate and improve quality management of their food products while maximizing yield and increasing profitability.

COMPASS is ideal for sorting processed, frozen, and pre-processed vegetables and fruits, nuts, leafy greens, potato chips, confections, and other food products. The solution’s advanced sensors and lighting technology, as well as Key’s new NEXT sort engine, allows COMPASS to accurately identify and separate plastic, glass, paper, and other organic and inorganic FM from the line. COMPASS can also sort specific product defects defined by each processor to deliver high-quality product.

Key designed COMPASS for extreme ease of use. Its intuitive user interface mimics the navigation of smart device apps and enables an operator to quickly become proficient in using the sorter, even without having any technical background. Operators can quickly create and edit COMPASS sort recipes to ensure consistent performance on every product run.

COMPASS also features Key Discovery™, a data analytics and reporting software that turns the sorter into an device connected to the Internet of Things (IoT), delivering a wealth of product quality and sort process information that gives food processors valuable insights into the operation of their line.

Additionally, COMPASS is offered in a configurable range of system types and sizes to meet individual customer application and capacity requirements. Key is first introducing chute-fed COMPASS models, to be followed by belt-fed variants of the sorter. COMPASS can be installed in-line at the start of the process to sort incoming product, after critical transformational processes on the line, or at the end of the food processing line to ensure final product quality and safety prior to packaging.

Key supports its customers worldwide through an extensive sales network and its global SupportPro service team.

Key Technology: www.key.net