(Key Technology: Walla Walla, WA) -- Key Technology, a member of the Duravant family of operating companies, has introduced its new integrated hyperspectral sorting system for chilled bacon bits. As the world’s only sorter that can combine near infrared (NIR) hyperspectral detection with color cameras, Key’s VERYX BioPrint analyzes a richer set of data about the materials it is sorting to remove the smallest bone fragments and other difficult-to-detect foreign material (FM) and product defects. When integrated with Key’s vibratory conveyors, this new bacon-bit sorting line improves food safety and product quality while maximizing efficiencies, improving yield, and reducing labor.

“Bacon-bit processors have extremely high product quality standards. Ninety-nine percent removal simply isn’t good enough—they want zero FM and defects,” says Jack Lee, president of Key Technology-Americas. “In the past, bacon-bit processors relied heavily on laser sorters without hyperspectral. This required multiple passes through a sorter, followed by manual inspection, to get anywhere near their quality goals. Now, with our hyperspectral sorting system, processors can run a single pass with virtually no manual inspection to achieve a sort accuracy that was previously unheard of.”

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