The TOMRA 4A is a high-capacity, AI-powered optical sorting machine developed by TOMRA Food for potato growers and producers seeking to improve sorting accuracy, maximise crop value and reduce storage costs. Designed for use before and after potato storage, the machine combines advanced inspection technology, artificial intelligence and robust mechanical construction to process up to 100 tonnes of potatoes per hour.
The machine removes dirt, stones, clods, rotten potatoes and other unwanted material before storage, helping growers avoid unnecessary storage costs and protect crop quality. When potatoes are removed from storage, the same machine can identify additional quality defects, operating at the lower throughput required for more detailed sorting.
The TOMRA 4A features a flexible three-way sorting system that separates good-quality potatoes, out-of-spec potatoes and foreign material into individual streams. Two dedicated sets of ejection fingers remove foreign material and defective potatoes separately, allowing growers to retain potatoes that may still have commercial value instead of discarding them with unwanted material.
The machine integrates dual-sided Pulsed LED+ optical inspection with infrared channels to examine both sides of every potato in high resolution. TOMRA's proprietary LUCAi artificial intelligence platform uses pre-trained deep learning models to distinguish acceptable potatoes from defective produce and foreign material. Operators can also train the system to recognise crop-specific defects and unwanted materials through its machine learning capabilities.
An intuitive XCD user interface simplifies sorting programme setup, monitoring and adjustments. The machine is designed to operate with a single person on the sorting line, reducing reliance on manual sorting crews. Good-quality potatoes are directed to a soft landing, while optional cushioned ejection fingers provide additional protection during handling.
Key Features
- High processing capacity: Sorts up to 100 tonnes of potatoes per hour during pre-storage operations, with robust mechanics designed for demanding harvest conditions.
- High sorting accuracy: Achieves 92 percent accuracy on foreign material, even with incoming defect loads of up to 20 percent, based on TOMRA's internal testing.
- Flexible three-way sorting: Separates good-quality potatoes, out-of-spec potatoes and foreign material into three individual streams, helping recover additional value from each harvest.
- Dual-sided optical inspection: Pulsed LED+ technology examines both sides of every potato in high resolution, while infrared channels detect characteristics beyond visible inspection.
- LUCAi artificial intelligence: Pre-trained deep learning models enable sorting from the first day of operation, while machine learning allows adaptation to specific defects and foreign materials.
- Powerful ejection system: Heavy-duty construction and fast ejection fingers remove stones, rocks, clods and other foreign material. Separate ejection systems direct out-of-spec potatoes into a dedicated stream.
- Pre-storage and post-storage applications: Removes foreign material and rot before storage and identifies additional quality defects after storage, using the same machine.
- Reduced labour requirements: Enables sorting operations at up to 100 tonnes per hour with one person on the sorting line instead of a manual picking crew.
- Intuitive XCD user interface: Provides straightforward controls for setting up, adjusting and managing sorting programmes, reducing operator training requirements.
- Gentle potato handling: Good-quality potatoes receive a soft landing, with optional cushioned ejection fingers available for additional product protection.
- Improved crop utilisation: Retains out-of-spec potatoes in a separate stream, allowing growers to recover potential commercial value while reducing unnecessary waste.
- Lower storage costs: Removes dirt, stones, clods and rotten potatoes before storage, reducing the volume of unwanted material occupying storage space.
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TOMRA 4A – AI-Powered Optical Potato Sorting Machine
Technical Specifications
- Processing capacity: Up to 100 tonnes per hour
- Sorting configuration: Three-way sorting
- Foreign material sorting accuracy: 92 percent
- Incoming defect load: Up to 20 percent
- Inspection technology: Dual-sided Pulsed LED+ with infrared channels
- Artificial intelligence: LUCAi deep learning and machine learning
- User interface: XCD
- Applications: Pre-storage and post-storage potato sorting
- Product handling: Soft landing with optional cushioned ejection fingers
- Width: 3,295 mm
- Length: 2,359 mm
- Height: 2,658 mm
TOMRA 4A Working principle
