LIVE from Fruit Attraction: AI sorting systems for smarter fruit selection

From its base in Romagna, UNITEC — a leading Italian company active in over 65 countries — is set to showcase its latest automation and AI solutions for the fruit and vegetable sector at Fruit Attraction 2025 in Madrid.

As climate and labour challenges reshape the industry, UNITEC continues to provide advanced systems for sorting, selection, and packing, helping packing houses maintain high-quality standards, reduce costs, and improve returns.

The spotlight this year is on Vision 4.0 AI, the newest upgrade to UNITEC’s sorting platform. Powered by artificial intelligence, it detects external defects with unmatched precision, ensuring more consistent quality and faster processing.

The company’s AI-driven UNIQ systems also evaluate internal fruit quality — such as ripeness and sweetness — without damaging the product. These tools help producers meet consumer demand for flavour, appearance, and freshness.

President Angelo Benedetti emphasized UNITEC’s mission to combine nature and technology: “Today, achieving results requires both. Technology ensures the consistency and quality that customers expect.”

UNITEC’s broader goal is to build an intelligent, connected supply chain, linking harvest data, packing houses, and retail channels. Future developments include robotic harvesters for apples, peaches, plums, and kiwifruit.

At the show, UNITEC will also present several innovations:

-UNICAL 222 Blueberry Sampler, offering quick quality checks for blueberry batches.

-UNI SMART PACKER, a robotic system for clamshell and punnet packaging.

-UNI SMART TRAY FILLER, an automatic robot for placing fruit into trays.

-Plum Vision 4.0 AI, a next-generation sorting tool for damson plums.

Sales Director Nour Abdrabbo added that automation is now essential: “It’s the only real solution to labour shortages and unpredictable seasons.”

With more than 20 global offices and operations across 65 countries, UNITEC remains committed to supporting customers worldwide. Its guiding principle, “We work for your results,” reflects its dedication to helping growers and exporters reach new markets with confidence.

Visit UNITEC at Hall 7, Stands 7C23 / 7B23 to explore its full range of AI-powered sorting and packing technologies.

To learn more about UNITEC’s AI-driven technologies or discuss customized solutions for your fruit and vegetable operations, send your inquiry today.