Key Technology, a member of the Duravant family of operating companies, introduces its VERYX digital sorters for pet food products.

VERYX, which integrates seamlessly with Key’s material handling systems, finds and removes foreign material (FM) and products with defects to improve product quality, eliminate the chance of cross-contamination, and protect brands–all while minimizing labor.

VERYX can be configured to sort a range of pet foods. When installed at the end of the line, it helps ensure final product quality for kibble, chews, and treats including dried, dehydrated, and freeze-dried products. When installed upstream near raw receiving, it inspects ingredients such as frozen proteins and other ingredients for wet pet foods. By detecting the color, size, shape, and/or structural properties of every object, VERYX removes plastics, glass, paper, and other FM, as well as product defects, as defined by each pet food processor.

“Our vibratory conveyors and mechanical grading systems have had a strong presence in this industry for a long time – almost every leading pet food brand around the world relies on our equipment, and we understand their unique needs. Now that these processors are seeing the value of digital sorting, we’ve leveraged our pet food application expertise to develop VERYX for these applications,” said Marco Azzaretti, director of marketing at Key. “Consumers are demanding higher and higher quality pet food, and VERYX can help manufacturers elevate their product quality to the level of human grade while improving the efficiency of their operation.”

Key can integrate VERYX with a variety of its vibratory and mechanical grading solutions for transferring, scalping, size separation, fines removal, product distribution, and more. Iso-Flo, Impulse, Zephyr, and Marathon vibratory conveyors, as well as its rotary separation equipment, are all suitable for pet foods, depending on the application. Ruggedly built for reliability, Key’s material handling solutions enhance sanitation with features such as open designs, fully-welded frames, nickel-plated finishes, oil-free drives, optional pan covers, and more.

Each VERYX is tailored with the optimal cameras, laser scanners, lighting, ejection system, product handling, and software to meet each customer’s specific requirements. Utilizing in-air inspection, VERYX sees all sides of the product with no blind spots. Next-generation cameras and laser scanners offer twice the resolution of previous sensor technology to find smaller FM and defects. Available in different widths, VERYX satisfies a range of capacity requirements.

Key Technology, Walla Walla, WA 509-876-9428 www.key.net