Chinese vegetable processor doubles capacity by upgrading its sorting equipment

Douyuan Food Co. is a vegetable processor from China's Shandong Province. It is mostly focused on the quick-freezing and preservation processing of green veggies, such as green onions, Chinese chives, diced carrots, and diced onions. 

Processing large volumes of vegetables, Douyuan Food Co. became dissatisfied with the accuracy and speed of manual sorting. 

In 2014, the company first switched from manual to mechanical sorting of processed vegetables and recently invested in a second TOMRA sorting machine, the TOMRA 5B. This is a belt sorter that analyzes color and shape defects and enables processing lines to reach the most challenging quality targets. The sorter comes with the latest sensor technologies and advanced algorithms.

The TOMRA 5B and Genius are put in parallel on its processing line, both behind the two freezers. Following the quick-freezing process, products are passed through the TOMRA sorters and sent to the X-ray machines and metal detectors before going to storage in the refrigeration house or directly for distribution.

Before Douyuan Food Co. switched to TOMRA sorters, it had to sort frozen veggies for a second time before shipment. The accuracy of TOMRA's technologies has made processing more cost-effective and time-efficient.

The company produces up to 20 varieties of vegetable products, and all of them have their own sorting requirements. To handle these variations and sort out product defects and foreign materials, TOMRA customized its TOMRA 5B for specific sorting requirements. 

The technology detects foreign matter and toxic plants such as datura. Following product inspection through 360 degrees, the machine eliminates foreign materials and defects, playing a key role in Douyuan Food Co.'s quality control.

According to Zhao Piyou, President Douyuan Food Co., TOMRA's equipment enables achieving large output and clean removal of foreign materials, while complying with food industry hygiene standards. Labor has been reduced by 80 percent, and efficiency has doubled. 

Mr. Piyoui stated that TOMRA not only provides them with consistent sorting solutions and professional technical support, but also values their demands and customizes solutions that address their challenges.

Today, Douyuan Food Co. operates standardized production plants, low-temperature warehouses, constant temperature warehouses, and planting fields. The company covers an area of around 50,000 sq.m. Annually processing over 15,000 tons of quick-frozen vegetables, its products are supplied to Japan, South Korea, South East Asia, the United States, and Europe.

If you're a vegetable processor and looking for innovative sorting solutions, send your inquiry.