FAQ

We inspect agricultural produce (citrus, tomatoes, apples, melons, Chinese yams, potatoes and more), marine products (fresh fish such as horse mackerel, mackerel and Pacific saury) and processed foods (baked goods, noodles, tofu, deep-fried tofu and more). For items not listed, tell us the product and its grading standards and we will propose inspection items.

The near-infrared internal quality sensor Imes10 measures the sugar content and acidity of citrus, peaches, tomatoes, pears and more without cutting them. Near-infrared internal sensors have also been used to evaluate internal defects such as rot in onions and hollow heart in potatoes. Crude fat in fish is measured with the QG100 fish quality inspection system. Combined with appearance inspection, both external and internal quality can be evaluated on the same line.

We have cases where AI judged and classified defects that are hard for conventional image processing because they share the colour of sound areas (peeling tofu, cracked cherry tomatoes and so on), as well as blue streaks and vine dieback on melons, and black spots and chanoki disease on mandarins. The defects that can be classified and the accuracy vary with the training data and imaging conditions.

As representative values, the internal quality sensor Imes10 handles up to 10 fruits per second (Satsuma mandarins), the compact sorting system HS1000 10 items per second, and the fish sorting systems FS100 and QG100 100 fish per minute (at a line speed of 40 m/min with 350 mm fish). None of these are guaranteed values; they vary with the target and conveying conditions.

Because we design in-house, we can retrofit equipment to an existing conveyor line or supply an integrated unit including a rejection device and conveyor. The internal quality sensor Imes10 is compact and can be mounted on sorting machines from various manufacturers.

The food external quality inspection system is available in dust- and drip-proof versions and can be installed on production lines with water washdown. The fish sorting systems FS100 and QG100 conform to IP54.

We handle everything in-house, from grading measurements against your quality standards and rejection control linked to the conveyor, to links with sorting slips, databases and JA (agricultural cooperative) systems, so you can manage everything from receiving to shipping. Settings, measurement results and outlet histories can also be reviewed.

Our sorting systems have been installed using programs such as the Manufacturing, Commerce and Services Subsidy, the SME Labor-Saving Investment Subsidy and the Farm Successor Development and Management Strengthening Support Program. The navigator on our subsidies page helps you narrow down the programs that may apply.

The AP8000 series external quality sensors have been installed at more than 300 sites, including agricultural cooperative facilities and merchants across Japan.