Dried fruit processing is passing to the next level with the innovative sorting solution.

Osman Akça A.Ş., an important raisin industry player, has become the first entity in Turkey to purchase the TOMRA 5C sorter. The company has been using the most up-to-date sorting solutions by TOMRA Food since 1996. 

Nowadays, operating as part of the Akça Holding group of businesses, they are among the leaders of the industry, with annual dried fruit exports worth 50 million dollars. 

Osman Akça possesses a dried fruit plant in Aydın Province, which processes dates, apricots, plums, and figs; and a raisin processing facility in Manisa Province, which produces 20.000 - 30.000 tons of raisins annually. 

There are 14 sorters by TOMRA Food installed in these 2 facilities which play a key role in the operations' efficiency and product quality.  

To guarantee the most precise foreign material removal, the TOMRA 5C combines advanced sensor technologies with machine learning and big data analytics. Latest-generation sensors and high-resolution lasers enable the TOMRA 5C to see and analyze the smallest defects, which other machines would overlook. This enables it to minimize manual labor and reduce food waste. Processors are saving from reprocessing, handling, and labor costs.   

The TOMRA 5C has a labor-saving hygienic design: the machine's working surfaces are minimal, curved and easily accessible for easy maintenance and cleaning.   

General Manager of Osman Akça A.Ş, Yalçın İskeçeli, commented that using “state-of-the-art technologies” for high-quality production has been decisive to Turkey's success in this field. In fact, Turkey has passed the U.S. to become the biggest raisin exporter in the world. 

Back in the days, conventional production lines with multiple sorters had to reprocess the product 3-4 times to achieve the needed quality, but now this isn’t efficient. It is now more important than ever to achieve efficient and consistent production, reducing labor and operational costs while maintaining product quality. 

He also added that TOMRA 5C optical sorter takes them to higher performance in quality and capacity. Now they can improve their product quality by capturing the details that other laser systems miss. The TOMRA 5C is future proofed to be compatible with possible future innovations in software and optical technologies. This is a good investment with a long-lasting payback.

Mr. İskeçeli said that at the first stage, they use advanced mechanical pre-cleaning which removes foreign materials and impurities and grades the raisins by size. After passing through sensor-based TOMRA sorters and X-ray products are packaged in line with customer requests. 

“With TOMRA systems, our operational facility does not need to reprocess the product." - concluded Mr. İskeçeli.

TOMRA Food is a producer of sensor-based sorting machines and integrated post-harvest equipment for the food industry. The company uses one of the world’s most advanced grading, sorting, peeling and analytical technology.

They are aiming to help their customers to improve returns, gain operational efficiencies, minimise food waste, ensure quality and a safe food supply with sustainable technologies. 

Their solutions are installed at food growers, packers and processors around the world. This allows businesses to maximise productivity and recovery rates, while reducing food waste and developing the overall quality of the produce.

For further information about TOMRA, please see their website.