When fruit doesn't float, UNITEC Robots steps in

In the collective imagination, fruit processing in water is exemplified by apples floating along a selection channel. there are fruits with a specific gravity that, despite their varying shapes and sizes, is always greater than one, so - unlike apples -they do not float.

To address this, UNITEC has developed a specific immersion robot for bins, equipped with a tipping function that allows controlled and ultra-delicate emptying of bins into water. Additionally, the combination with a mobile-bottom tank is particularly useful to ensure continuous and homogeneous feeding of fruits, whether floating or non-floating, such as pears and peaches. This system ensures that all fruits are handled uniformly, preventing damage and ensuring a continuous flow in the production process, which guarantees a constant processing capacity.

For Agrintesa, the line dedicated to flat peaches and pears has been integrated with a UNICAL 10.0 sorter, with 4 channels, equipped with advanced technologies for classification by weight, size, and color. Its real strength lies in the external and internal quality selection system dedicated to flat peaches, Peach Vision. This innovative system, entirely developed within Unitec's R&D department, detects and eliminates defective and overripe fruits, ensuring that only fruits suitable for fresh consumption reach the market.

Angelo Benedetti, President of UNITEC, says:

“Considering that flat peaches often lack in ripening uniformity, with UNICAL 10.0 we can ensure that only fruits suitable for fresh consumption reach the end distribution. Moreover, thanks to its versatility, this innovative solution can also process pears, ensuring faster amortization times and consequently lower fixed costs. Specialization and versatility are the key words of this solution developed for Agrintesa, always in line with our philosophy of supporting our Customers to achieve the best possible results in their handling process.”

The plant is also equipped with three different types of packing, designed for various types of packaging such as boxes and trays, with particular attention to the handling of trays for flat nectarines, which require special care in fruit presentation. These systems allow operators to focus on specific tasks, thereby increasing productivity and significantly saving on labor costs.

Finally, there are automatic crate fillers that allow pre-sort part or all of the product in boxes. This aspect makes the line extremely versatile for different handling processes, facilitating the management and packing of fruits, thus creating high efficiency in the entire process.

Cristian Moretti, General Director of Agrintesa, concludes:

“All this helps ensure better profitability also for producers, since generating income in the field is a priority that all operators in the supply chain must aim for.”