Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 5230 “It’s just a new tool in the toolbox,” says Metcalfe, adding that optical sorters enable users to more easily or efficiently make separations “that they would have struggled with or perhaps just couldn’t do with those other parameters.” A high production capacity RGB tri-chromatic sorter, the SEA- Chrome is equipped with full-color RGB cameras and an LED lighting system. Its enhanced optical system can determine even the smallest colour or shade differences, enabling it to detect and reject seeds that are similar in colour but have slightly different shades. Machine adjustments can be carried out easily due to the real image setting on the SEA-Chrome, and it has Internet connectivity that enables remote control. The result, according to Metcalfe, is a system that’s “more intuitive and interactive.” He says it’s important that users of optical sorting equipment in seed applications have the capa- bility to change programming frequently and quickly because they’re always dealing with different types of seeds. Another innovative line of optical sorting equipment is offered by Buhler Sortex. Don Uglow, North American seed accounts manager at Buhler Sortex Inc., says “the optical sorting part of the seed market is constantly changing and improving.” There are many reasons why sorters have enjoyed a success- ful entry into the Canadian seed market. Uglow says: “Better germination, less spread of weed seeds, safer planting, less good seed thrown away (when depending strictly on mechan- ical cleaning) and a better-looking product to the grower.” He adds that the company’s A-Series line of optical sorters is best suited for most Canadian seed uses. “The A-Series has approximately 164 different permutations available, for any seed usage,” he says. “These range from full colour, to colour with either one or two different wavelengths of infrared, to a strictly black-and-white sort, depending on the needs of the customer and the quality of the sort. It also sorts by shape simultaneously, and is available in five dif- ferent capacity sizes.” “Basically, if the commodity being sorted is dry and flowable and if the human eye can see a difference in what needs to be separated, the A-Series will provide the sorting answers to a high degree of accuracy,” he says. Optical sorters like those offered by Nexeed and Buhler are at the cutting edge of innovation. The possibilities for future advances within optical sorting are even more intriguing. “If we can ... somehow determine which kernels are more likely to grow with better results, whether that be germination or vigour, that’s a really exciting thing,” Metcalfe says. “It will only continue to help overall seed performance.” Mark Halsall