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Processing

New Automatic Defect

Removal for Potato Strips

Key Technology, a member of the Duravant family of operating companies, has introduced the newest automatic
defect removal system for potato strips – ADR EXOS™. As the only vision system on the market designed specifi cally
to cut out defects from potato strips, ADR recovers french fries with defects and turns them into ‘good’ product, directly
increasing yield. Featuring a new cutter-wheel design and intelligent software, the next-generation ADR EXOS better
manages strip quality and length while improving product recovery to maximize process profi tability.

“ADR EXOS offers an extremely fast
payback. Processors new to ADR
systems can recoup up to EUR €1,75
million worth of product per year
with EXOS. Those upgrading from
existing ADR5 systems to EXOS
will improve their recovery value
by as much as €150.000 per year,”
said Marco Azzaretti, Advanced
Inspection Systems Product
Manager at Key. “Customers are
telling us the quality of potato crops
is becoming more variable due to
challenging climate conditions.
During seasons when processors risk New intelligent software supports for combining sorting systems,
not having enough good potatoes enhanced cut strategies, enabling ADR EXOS and Iso Flo® vibratory
to meet demand, product recovery more options for placing cut loca- conveyors into complete integrated
becomes even more critical. ADR tions relative to each defect, includ- sorting systems.
EXOS is the ideal complement to wet ing making multiple cuts on a single
potato strip digital sorting systems strip.Finally, a comprehensive smart For inspection accuracy, ADR
and a uniquely valuable tool to diagnostics system continuously EXOS relies on LED lights and
achieve the desired product quality monitors knife cutting operations to highresolution Vis/IR cameras to
at the highest possible yield.” detect any possible issues and en- identify green and brown defects
sure system performance remains such as bruises and rot. The
Building upon the fi eld-proven consistent over time. patented ADR belt conveyor and Iso-
technology of previous Key ADR Flo® high-speed vibratory infeed
systems, EXOS aligns, singulates, At production rates of up to 7.7 conveyor accurately convey each
inspects and trims both peeled metric tons (17,000 lb.) per hour for potato strip for optimal inspection
and peel-on wet potato strips of shoestring cuts, and proportionally and trimming. To effectively
various cut sizes. The new cutter- higher capacity rates for larger handle a variety of strip types from
wheel features even closer spacing product cuts, ADR EXOS inspects shoestring to steak cut, ADR EXOS
between the air-actuated knives to defective potato strips that are offers a “bed shift” capability so
more accurately place cuts closer to rejected from an upstream digital lane widths can be easily adjusted.
defects, which increases the average sorter or all strips coming to it The CleanBelt clean-in-place (CIP)
length of recovered strips. directly from the cutting equipment, system continuously removes starch
depending on its location on the line.
ADR EXOS introduces a series of addi- ADR EXOS can be used with Key’s from the ADR belt to prevent build-

tional benefits, including a new knife recently-introduced VERYX® as well up, which improves sanitation,
retention system that eliminates the as Tegra®, Manta® and Optyx® strip reduces labor, minimizes the cost
chance of unintended knife deploy- sorting systems and competitive wet of replacement parts and helps
ments, further improving product strip sorting systems. Key provides maintain optimal performance
recovery and reducing maintenance. complete engineering support throughout the production cycle.

Food Marketing & Technology 36 February 2020