The announcement comes following success in the US for almond, pistachio and walnut nuts, with its Sortex E and Sortex F with BioVision technology.
Hazelnut processing global expansion
The four technologies being launched in Turkey are BioVision, Enhanced InGaAs, ColorVision and PROfile and Bühler is hosting an event for hazelnut processors in Ordu on April 28.
After the initial launch in Turkey the company hopes to expand the processors into the global hazelnut market.
Christophe Parrot, head of segment coffee nuts and cocoa, Digital Technologies, Bühler, said nuts are one of the most difficult commodities to sort and so the technology needs to be advanced, ensuring less loss of good material per pass.
“The main advantage of this technology for processors sorting natural hazelnuts is they can achieve a higher accuracy and higher throughput, with less good product lost,” he said.
“Each of the four technologies play a complementary role in stopping unwanted material getting through while making sure the good material is not rejected.
Color defects & foreign material
“We have had great success with many of the big processors turning to us and achieving higher yields in the Californian almond, walnut and pistachio sectors and we will be working to repeat this success in the hazelnut market.”
According to Bühler, Turkey is the world’s largest producer of hazelnuts, responsible for 60%-65% of the global market.
Natural hazelnut processors are currently reliant on laser and ultra sound technology when sorting their natural material.
Bühler's four processing technologies are capable of detecting color defects and shell and foreign material removal in one process.