The SMART Sorter, introduced by Laitram at this year's IPPE (International Production & Processing Expo), continues to make significant advancements in the industry. Recognized as the year's best innovation by IPPE in 2024, this cutting-edge system combines advanced vision and AI technology with practical features to revolutionize chicken Nuggets and their latest development: Chicken Breast Strip sorting.
Automating nuggets and breast strip grading isn't just a convenience; it's an industry game-changer for processors and end-users/buyers with tight specifications. The increased throughput, higher recovery rates, and reduced labor led to significant cost savings and increased profitability, resulting in annual savings of $1.2 million to $4.5 million.
Unlike human inspectors, the SMART Sorter remains unaffected by personal bias, fatigue, or boredom. Its consistent, objective grading results enhance overall efficiency.
This patent-pending system individually images each nugget and breast strip, using laser imaging and AI to inspect, separate, and sort with remarkable precision. With a throughput of 4,200 lbs./hr, processors can recover 25% to 35% of in-spec nuggets and breast strips from trim.
The success of the SMART Sorter lies in its ability to learn and adapt continuously. Laitram’s R&D team processes data from real-world installations and feeds it to the Sorter so that it continues to evolve and become smarter. Here are the key features from the new release, these enhancements to optimize performance and reliability:
1. AI-Powered Clump and Defect Detection
The system’s laser imaging technology meticulously inspects and sorts each Nugget and Chicken Breast Strip, minimizing the risk of defects reaching consumers.
2. Improved Recovery Rates
Higher precision means even more in-spec nuggets and breast strips, boosting recovery rates and reducing manual inspections.
3. Versatility and Mechanical Enhancements
Initially designed for chicken nuggets, the SMART Sorter has expanded its capabilities to include Chicken Breast Strips. Additionally, based on valuable feedback from installations and field experience, the system incorporates mechanical design improvements such as reduced size, safety, and guarding features, improved cleanability, take-out conveyor options, and water recirculation and filtering options.
The SMART Sorter offers innovative digital reporting, providing real-time insights for optimizing plant operations and meeting customer requirements. Processors can optimize plant operations, eliminate or reduce quality control labor needs, and share comprehensive digital reports with customers—minimizing the need for customer audits.
The SMART Sorter automates the grading process, helping poultry processors improve efficiency, reduce costs, and meet customer quality standards.
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