Sant’Orsola
Sant’Orsola is an organization of producers specialized in growing small fruits: blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and cherries. This company processed 6000 tons of small fruit per year, it is the leader in the Italian market and exports its products all over Europe.
In order to avoid excessive handling and visible damage, the “berry” fruits for the fresh market are nowadays manually picked, sorted, graded and packaged in the field, with high post-harvest costs. Some “berry” fruits ripen at different periods of the year so it would be necessary to set up a grading, handling and sorting plant that is rapidly reconfigurable, i.e. capable of processing different fruits efficiently and flexibly.
Before AgileHand
Classification, sorting and generally handling “berry” fruits are complex processes because these fruits are so easily damaged, very lightweight and, for certain types of fruit, empty inside. This is why these processes are now all manual and carried out by operators. The Sant’Orsola postharvest costs are therefore very important.
Classification, sorting and generally handling “berry” fruits are complex processes because these fruits are so easily damaged, very lightweight and, for certain types of fruit, empty inside. This is why these processes are now all manual and carried out by operators. The Sant’Orsola postharvest costs are therefore very important.
For instance, regarding the grading phase, raspberries are classified into 2 categories directly in the field by human workers. The 1st category (without defects) includes the fruits that gather the following specifications: consistent, with good size, dimension and appropriate colour. The other category includes fruit with defects: small, dark, unevenly coloured, soft or misshapen. Fruit in the 2nd category is destined for processed products such as jams, fruit pulp, juices.
After AgileHand
The pilot objective is to develop a smart and automated plant for grading and handling “berry” fruits. AGILEHAND solution will be adopted for the automated scanning of “berry” fruits in terms of external aspects (shape, size, colour, absence of blemishes) and interior quality factors (ripeness, softness, and smell).
Sant’Orsola will be able to provide consistent grades that will bring together internal and external attributes, human and experiment experiences about object parameters and actual shelf-life. This AI-based solution will also be exploited in the handle stage. Optimal pressure will be applied at the best places in order not to damage the product.
Another solution will be developed for this plant in order to real-time/near-real time monitor and synchronisation of production and logistics systems (smart conveyor belts, air blasts, air suction and vibration systems). This solution will be able to automatically adapt and reconfigure the line according to the “berry” type and to the packaging systems required by customers.
Expected Improvements
- Increase the pace of the product scanning system
- Reduction of waiting times in product queues
- Reduce the product grading cost by automating human operations
- Reduction of material shortage
- Waste Reduction, through a more precise quality estimate and more accurate shelf-life date
- Reduction in discarded pieces by decreasing the number of products damaged during workpiece gripping step
- Reduce the number of delicate products damaged during workpiece handling
- Reduction in product gripping and handling time
Learn more about Sant’Orsola : https://www.santorsola.com/