News

Radix Systems is using next month's Interpack to launch the Autosort MC-E sorter, which checks snacks and biscuits for colour and size defects.

The Hampshire-based supplier of electronic inspection machines said the Autosort MC-E would automatically detect and eject burnt or under-baked products, size defects such as a broken or protruding nut in a snack bar, and shape defects such as an elliptical biscuit or non-rectangular wafer bar.

The system uses the firm's Radix MC (multichromatic) Snapshot technology and is capable of inspecting in four parts of the spectrum, including infra-red, thus able to spot the difference between chocolate and the same colour biscuit shell.

The Autosort MC-E is capable of inspecting more than 2,000 pieces a minute on conveyors moving at speeds of up to two metres a second and can spot colour defects such as a burnt mark smaller than three sq m. It also detects height and will eliminate products that are too high or too low, which would cause packaging machinery to jam.

This is the smallest machine in the Radix family and fits over a line conveyor, typically carrying a single or two files of product. The defects are removed with a short puff of air to the side.

The firm will also demonstrate the Autosort MC-A, which is capable of seeing and rejecting 40,000 defects a minute at up to 4,000kg an hour, and is suitable for dehydrated herbs, potato flakes and milk powder.

Radix will be on stand D53 in Hall 4 of the Messe Düsseldorf.

Interpack runs from 24-30 April.