Interpack 2023: Key Technology Presents World-Class Food Processing and Packaging Systems

Key Technology’s VERYX optical sorter removes FM and defects to maximize food safety, reduce labor and more

Key Technology, a member of the Duravant family of operating companies, is exhibiting their VERYX® optical sorter and Zephyr™ horizontal-motion conveyor, as well as showcasing their other world-class equipment, in Hall 6 / B73 at Interpack in Düsseldorf, Germany, May 4-10, 2023.

“Food processors worldwide are facing enormous market challenges – fluctuations in crop quality due to extreme weather, increasing defects resulting from stricter legislation on the use of pesticides, widespread labor shortages, consumer demands for higher product quality and more. We’re addressing these issues with our next-generation food processing technologies designed for Industry 4.0 plants,” said Antoine van Bree, President, Key Technology – EMEIA and Asia. “To meet processors’ specific requirements and regional conditions, we collaborate closely with each customer to understand their needs and fine-tune our systems to suit their unique application. We back that up with local tech support, so our customers are taken care of, no matter where their facility is located.”

On exhibit at Interpack, Key’s sophisticated VERYX digital sorter finds and removes foreign material (FM) and user-specified defects to protect food safety and ensure product quality while virtually eliminating false rejects and reducing labor requirements. Integrating seamlessly with Key’s specialized material handling systems, VERYX can be configured to sort fresh, dried and frozen fruits and vegetables, potato products, nuts, confectioneries, pet foods and more. Key Discovery™ software collects, analyzes and shares data to reveal patterns and trends that improve sorting and help control upstream and downstream processes.

Achieving higher capacities than other horizontal-motion conveyors, Zephyr gently moves product with minimal bounce to protect product quality and reduce noise. Ideal for processing and packaging lines handling frozen foods as well as dry products like potato chips/crisps, nuts and cereals, Zephyr’s unique motion profile slides and conveys product with no segregation or stratification and reduces product damage and loss of coatings such as seasoning and batter. An optional reversible configuration allows customers to flow product in either direction, maximizing line versatility.

Key offers a wide range of high-performance food processing and packaging technologies, along with best-in-class service and support, to help customers optimize product quality, increase yield, reduce labor and enhance line efficiencies. In addition to VERYX, Key’s popular vision inspection systems include OCULUS sorters for whole potatoes, Optyx® sorters for potato chips/crisps and ADR® automatic defect removal systems for potato strips. Key’s Iso-Flo®, Impulse®, Marathon® and Zephyr vibratory conveyors, as well as their rotary size graders and other mechanical solutions, are ideal for a variety of applications throughout processing and packaging lines.

About Key Technology, Inc.

Key Technology is a global leader in the design and manufacture of automation systems including digital sorters, conveyors and other processing equipment. Applying processing knowledge and application expertise, Key helps customers in the food processing and other industries improve quality, increase yield and reduce cost. For more information, visit www.key.net.

About Duravant

Headquartered in Downers Grove, IL, Duravant is a global engineered equipment company with manufacturing, sales and service facilities throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Through their portfolio of operating companies, Duravant delivers trusted end-to-end process solutions for customers and partners through engineering and integration expertise, project management and operational excellence. For more information, visit www.duravant.com.