Flikweert Vision Explains How the QualityGrader Delivers Fast ROI Through Smarter Optical Sorting

Flikweert Vision has published new insights into the return on investment (ROI) of its QualityGrader, highlighting that the optical sorting system delivers value far beyond labour savings. While many potato and onion processors initially invest to reduce manual inspection costs, the company says that more consistent processing capacity, fewer unnecessary rejects, improved product utilisation, and better batch insights often become the factors that determine the machine's long-term payback.

According to Flikweert Vision, there is no standard payback period for a QualityGrader because every processing operation is different. Labour costs, sorting capacity, product quality, and customer requirements vary from one business to another. However, the company says that the same core benefits consistently influence the return on investment across different operations.

Labour Savings Remain the Main Reason for Investment

The company notes that labour shortages and rising wage costs continue to challenge potato and onion processors. Manual quality inspection requires continuous concentration and experienced operators, making staffing increasingly difficult and production planning more vulnerable.

For many businesses, reducing dependence on manual quality control is the primary reason for investing in optical sorting. However, Flikweert Vision emphasises that labour savings represent only part of the overall financial return.

Stable Processing Capacity Improves Overall Efficiency

One of the most significant advantages of the QualityGrader is its ability to maintain consistent processing capacity regardless of batch quality.

Unlike manual inspection, where throughput often slows when batches contain more defects, the QualityGrader evaluates every individual potato or onion using industrial cameras and AI-powered algorithms. Each product is assessed against the same pre-set quality criteria at all times, while defective products are automatically removed using high-speed rejection fingers. 

As a result, difficult batches have little impact on production capacity. 

Based on customer experience, Flikweert Vision reports that installing a QualityGrader has resulted in 10–20% higher processing capacity in many operations. During busy production periods, this allows processors to maintain schedules even when unexpected batch quality issues arise.

The company says customers frequently report that although labour savings motivated the initial purchase, predictability and process control ultimately became the greatest long-term benefits.

According to Flikweert Vision, many customers say they initially purchased the QualityGrader for labour savings but later recognised that improved process predictability and control became its most valuable benefit.

Reducing Unnecessary Rejects Increases Saleable Product

Flikweert Vision also highlights the importance of maximising the amount of marketable product recovered from every batch. 

If sorting standards are set too strictly, good potatoes or onions may be rejected unnecessarily. If standards are too relaxed, defective products may reach customers.

The QualityGrader is designed to minimise unnecessary rejects by consistently identifying marketable products while removing defective ones. The company says that comparisons between manual inspection and automated optical sorting often reveal that even experienced workers unintentionally reject good products, particularly when inspecting relatively high-quality batches. 

By applying consistent quality criteria to every product, the QualityGrader can increase the volume of saleable produce, directly improving overall returns and shortening the investment payback period.

VisionCore Update Expands Batch Data Insights

Flikweert Vision also points to the growing importance of production data throughout the potato and onion supply chain.

The company says the VisionCore software update, scheduled for late July 2026, represents the first step towards providing processors with deeper insights into batch quality and sorting performance.

Although the new analytical capabilities are still under development, the software already enables processors to compare batches more effectively and make better-informed decisions about processing schedules.

According to Flikweert Vision, improved batch visibility helps reduce production surprises, supports smarter planning, and allows processors to optimise the use of available raw material, creating additional value beyond direct labour savings.

Payback Depends on Multiple Operational Benefits

Rather than being driven by a single factor, the company says the payback period results from the combined impact of several operational improvements.

For some processors, labour savings may generate the greatest financial benefit. Others may see stronger returns from more stable processing capacity, higher yields through fewer unnecessary rejects, or improved quality consistency. 

Flikweert Vision encourages processors to evaluate several key questions when estimating the return on investment:

• How much is currently spent each year on manual quality inspection? 
• How often does production planning change because batches contain more defects than expected? 
• How much saleable product is unnecessarily rejected during manual inspection? 
• To what extent does manual quality control limit overall sorting line capacity? 
• How many additional tonnes could be processed each week if quality inspection no longer became the bottleneck?

The company believes that answering these questions provides a more realistic assessment of the financial value of optical sorting than focusing on labour savings alone.

Tailored ROI Assessment for Individual Operations

Because every processing operation differs, Flikweert Vision does not offer a universal payback calculation. Instead, the company works with processors to estimate the potential benefits based on their own production environment, labour requirements, throughput, product quality, and operational goals. 

According to Flikweert Vision, the real value of the QualityGrader lies in combining reduced labour costs, more stable processing capacity, higher saleable yields, improved process control, and increasingly valuable production data, helping potato and onion processors achieve a realistic and sustainable return on investment.