Advanced Blueberry Sorting with Multiscan 360Tek BB20/BB40

Blueberry sorting has become a key technology for producers and packing facilities looking to improve final product quality, increase process efficiency and reduce dependence on manual inspection.

In this context, Multiscan and WECO combine their experience and technological expertise to offer advanced blueberry sorting solutions. WECO brings many years of experience in the blueberry industry and a deep understanding of the real needs of growers and packers. Multiscan contributes its expertise in artificial vision and innovative sorting technologies. Together, both companies have become leading technology partners for blueberry producers seeking higher performance, better quality control and more efficient sorting lines.

Through artificial vision technology, blueberry sorting can be automated using objective and repeatable criteria, helping achieve a more uniform product, optimize packing and repacking operations, and improve in-line quality control.

Main Challenges in Blueberry Sorting

Blueberry sorting involves several challenges due to the nature of the product. Blueberries are small, delicate fruits that are highly sensitive to mechanical damage. In addition, some defects can be difficult to detect consistently through manual inspection.

The main sorting criteria include:

• Color and ripeness level.
• Soft or overripe fruit.
• Shriveled or dehydrated blueberries.
• Mold.
• External damage.
• Stems.
• Splits.
• Size differences.

Managing all these parameters accurately is essential to obtain uniform batches that meet market requirements. At the same time, automating the inspection process helps reduce repetitive manual tasks and maintain a more stable process throughout the season.

Artificial Vision for Blueberry Optical Sorting

The Multiscan 360Tek BB20/BB40 is a compact solution specifically designed for blueberry sorting and pre-grading. The system discards defective blueberries and sorts the product by color, softness, external defects and size, helping improve final quality and line efficiency.

The BB20 reaches a nominal capacity of up to 1,180,000 fruits per hour, while the BB40 reaches up to 2,360,000 fruits per hour. This double configuration allows the solution to adapt to different production needs, from more compact operations to high-capacity sorting lines.

Benefits of the Multiscan 360Tek BB20/BB40 for Blueberries

The Multiscan 360Tek BB20/BB40 helps producers and packers improve the efficiency and consistency of their blueberry sorting process by combining high capacity, precision and flexibility.

Its main benefits include:

• Automatic sorting by color, softness, defects and size.
• Reduced dependence on manual inspection.
• Greater consistency in quality control.
• Optimization of packing and repacking operations.
• Flexible configuration according to production needs.
• Scalable capacity with two models: BB20 and BB40.
• Integration with complementary WECO SORTIVATOR modules to create a complete blueberry sorting line.

BB20 and BB40: Two Capacities for the Same Quality Requirements

Not all packing facilities work with the same volumes or production needs. That is why having a scalable solution is essential to adapt the technology to the real pace of each operation.

The BB20/BB40 range offers two capacity configurations:

• BB20: up to 1,180,000 fruits per hour.
• BB40: up to 2,360,000 fruits per hour.

This capacity difference makes it possible to configure the line according to product flow, available space and production targets, while maintaining a precise, consistent and quality-oriented sorting process.

Whether the objective is to automate manual sorting, increase throughput or improve final product uniformity, the BB20/BB40 range provides a flexible solution for different production environments.

A Configurable Line with WECO SORTIVATOR Modules

Blueberry optical sorting does not depend on a single inspection point. To achieve a higher level of quality, the BB20/BB40 line can be combined with different WECO SORTIVATOR modules, designed to act on specific aspects of the product before final sorting.

These modules make it possible to configure a complete solution adapted to the needs of each operation:

• Blower: a feeding and cleaning module that helps remove leaves, debris and very small fruit.
• Impulse Soft: a module focused on detecting soft, overripe or damaged blueberries.
• Berrytek Color: equipped with high-resolution cameras for sorting by color, external damage and IR light analysis.
• BB20/BB40 Sorter: the optical module for final product sorting.

The combination of Blower, Impulse Soft and Berrytek Color SORTIVATOR modules with the BB20/BB40 sorter creates an integrated line for advanced blueberry sorting. This configuration is designed for demanding producers and packers looking for high-quality sorting through a flexible line that can be adapted to their specific needs.

Thanks to this integration, Multiscan and WECO offer a complete solution that combines industry experience, automation, artificial vision and the flexibility to adapt to different production volumes.

More Objective, Efficient and Consistent Sorting

Manual inspection can be affected by factors such as operator fatigue, line speed or product variability. Artificial vision, on the other hand, analyzes each fruit according to defined criteria, providing greater objectivity and repeatability throughout the process.

In blueberries, this consistency is especially important, as small differences in color, firmness or external damage can affect the perception of quality in the final product. Automating the sorting process helps maintain more stable quality standards and reduce variability between batches.

In addition, having a configurable sorting line allows the process to be adjusted according to each season, variety or commercial destination.

Multiscan and WECO: Technology Partners for Blueberry Sorting

The partnership between WECO and Multiscan offers the market a strong technological proposal for the blueberry industry. WECO contributes years of experience in the sector and a deep knowledge of the needs of growers and packers, while Multiscan adds its innovation capacity in artificial vision and advanced food sorting technologies.

This combination positions both companies as leading technology partners for businesses looking to move towards more automated, efficient and quality-focused blueberry lines.

Multiscan 360Tek BB20/BB40 for Blueberries

Multiscan 360Tek BB20/BB40 is designed to help blueberry producers and packers improve final product quality through an automated, efficient and adaptable sorting process.

Main Features

• Application: blueberry sorting and pre-grading.
• Models: BB20 and BB40.
• Nominal capacity: up to 1,180,000 fruits/hour with BB20 and up to 2,360,000 fruits/hour with BB40.
• Sorting criteria: color, softness, external defects and size.
• Line application: packing and repacking.
• Configuration: 3/4 fully configurable outputs.
• Integration: possibility to combine with WECO SORTIVATOR modules such as Blower, Impulse Soft and Berrytek Color for a complete blueberry sorting line.

More Quality and Capacity in Blueberry Processing

Investing in an optical sorting solution for blueberries allows producers and packers to move towards a more automated, precise and efficient process. The combination of artificial vision, specialized modules and the double capacity of the BB20/BB40 helps improve final product uniformity, reduce dependence on manual tasks and adapt the line to different production needs.

With the Multiscan 360Tek BB20/BB40 and WECO SORTIVATOR modules, Multiscan and WECO offer an advanced solution for blueberry sorting, designed to respond to today’s challenges in quality, efficiency and capacity.

Frequently Asked Questions about Blueberry Optical Sorting

What defects can optical sorting detect in blueberries?

Optical sorting can classify blueberries according to criteria such as color, size, softness, external damage, mold, shriveled fruit, splits or stems.

What is the difference between BB20 and BB40?

The main difference is production capacity. The BB20 reaches up to 1,180,000 fruits per hour, while the BB40 reaches up to 2,360,000 fruits per hour.

What are WECO SORTIVATOR modules?

WECO SORTIVATOR modules are complementary solutions that make it possible to configure a complete blueberry sorting line, including cleaning, color sorting, soft fruit detection and final optical sorting.

Can the BB20/BB40 line be adapted to different production needs?

Yes. The line can be configured according to each operation’s needs, combining different modules for cleaning, color sorting, softness detection and final optical sorting.

What advantages does artificial vision offer compared to manual inspection?

Artificial vision automates the sorting process using objective and repeatable criteria, improving process consistency, reducing dependence on labor and helping obtain more uniform batches.

Can this line help improve the sorting process for mechanically harvested blueberries?

Yes. Mechanically harvested blueberries typically contain more leaves, stems, soft fruit, and other defects than hand-picked fruit. By combining WECO SORTIVATOR modules with the BB20 or BB40 optical sorter, the line can effectively remove these defects and significantly improve final fruit quality, reducing labor requirements and increasing packing efficiency.

Looking to Improve Blueberry Sorting in Your Production Line?

Contact our team and discover how the Multiscan 360Tek BB20/BB40, together with WECO SORTIVATOR modules, can help improve the quality, efficiency and capacity of your blueberry sorting line.