UNITEC, from the field to the global market
Today’s cherry market is increasingly demanding: firmness, colour and Brix are key factors that determine the commercial value of this extraordinary fruit. In a constantly evolving landscape such as this, UNITEC has been supporting fruit and vegetable distribution centres for over 100 years with advanced technological solutions for the sorting, processing and packaging of fruit, nuts and fresh vegetables
The main objective is to enable companies to increase their profitability whilst, at the same time, producing batches of consistent quality that meet market expectations.
Artificial intelligence gets to the heart of the fruit
UNITEC does not merely follow market trends: it anticipates them. For years, the company has been integrating artificial intelligence systems into its technologies, placing itself at the forefront of innovation in the sector. With the CHERRY VISION 3.5 AI and 4.0 AI systems, it has introduced a new paradigm in post-harvest sorting, helping operators to identify defects and imperfections that are often imperceptible to the human eye through the use of state-of-the-art artificial intelligence models.
Recent cuts, colour variations, pitting and damage caused by insects (such as Drosophila), as well as surface defects, are detected with great precision, enabling more reliable grading that is consistent with the standards required by large-scale retailers and by national and international markets. The most advanced innovation comes in the form of UNIQ CHERRY: technology capable of looking beyond the fruit’s external appearance to also detect internal parameters related to flavour, such as the degree of ripeness and sugar content. This approach transforms the very concept of sorting: it is no longer simply a matter of detecting defects, but of highlighting the commercial potential of each fruit. For fruit and vegetable distribution centres, this translates into a greater ability to segment batches, reduce value losses and supply cherries that meet the end consumer’s flavour expectations.
UNITEC: technology for a more efficient supply chain
UNITEC’s strength lies not only in its technological solutions, but also in a comprehensive approach to products and services that supports fruit and vegetable distribution centres throughout the entire process. The automated lines handle the cherries from reception through to final packaging using gentle, rapid and highly efficient processes. The aim is threefold: to optimise operating costs, reduce waste and enable fruit and vegetable distribution centres to maximise their profitability. Each installation is bespoke and incorporates technologies developed by the company’s in-house Research and Development centre. This flexibility enables operators to tackle increasingly complex seasons, characterised by extreme weather events and growing variability in product quality
Stories of trust: the experiences of those who have chosen UNITEC
The Spanish cherry season has now passed its halfway point and has kept the entire sector’s value chain on tenterhooks, as it is called upon to bring a whole year’s work to fruition in just a few days. The sector is going through a particularly intense period: the persistent rain at the start of the season and the sudden changes in temperature are making operations even more complex.
Against this backdrop of challenges and expectations, the Spanish fruit and vegetable processing centres that have opted for UNITEC’s technologies for the processing and grading of cherries are achieving highly promising results. Llamfruit Cherry, a fruit and vegetable processing centre located in the autonomous community of Aragón (Spain), which has been dedicated to the production, processing and export of cherries for over fifty years, has recently implemented the new CHERRY VISION 4.0 AI vision system.
“In such a context, the major challenge is to maintain consistent quality in shipments when the fruit arrives in such a varied state. Nowadays, it is not enough simply to sort by size; parameters such as firmness, colour, external defects and shelf life must be closely monitored (…). The introduction this year of UNITEC’s new Cherry Vision 4.0 AI technology is helping us to manage precisely this complexity. The machine enables a much more precise and consistent selection, identifying differences that would be very difficult to detect consistently by hand. “This helps us handle delicate fruit more effectively, separate grades more reliably and match each batch to the most suitable market, whilst maintaining product consistency even during an irregular season,” says Carlos Llambrich, Managing Director.
The company also reports an estimated improvement in operational efficiency of between 15 per cent and 20 per cent compared with previous seasons. From a commercial perspective, the greater consistency in quality is helping to reduce complaints and strengthen customer confidence, having a direct impact on the product’s value and the company’s competitiveness. The same positive trend is also evident at Agrupación de Cooperativas Valle del Jerte, one of the leading producer organisations in Extremadura (Spain), where the adoption of this technology has enabled the maintenance of more consistent quality standards even during periods of peak operational pressure and with highly varied batches. More accurate grading allows the full value of each batch of produce to be realised, with each quality grade being channelled to the most suitable sales channel. The result is a significant reduction in waste and a greater ability to preserve the commercial value of the produce.
From an organisational perspective, too, the advantages are clear: the technology facilitates faster and more objective decision-making, improves the management of peaks in fruit intake and increases responsiveness during the most critical phases of the season. This is particularly valuable in seasons characterised by heavy rainfall and significant variability in product quality, where operational efficiency and rapid decision-making become key factors for commercial success.
But UNITEC’s true strength lies in designing solutions that translate into a competitive advantage, as confirmed by Frutas Agrotrain, a company that for three generations has continued to farm with the same spirit and dedication as on its first day. The company has confirmed the importance of being able to rely on CHERRY VISION 3 technology to sort the fruit with precision, even during particularly demanding seasons such as the current one. “At present, there are batches of cherries which, were it not for vision technology, we would probably have left unharvested or thrown straight onto the ground.” More precise sorting and reduced labour requirements at the packing house: a tangible result that generates value for the company.
UNITEC: a global presence, Italian roots
With more than 20 operational sites in the main producing countries and a sales network spanning more than 65 countries, UNITEC supports fruit and vegetable distribution centres on a daily basis through technical assistance and specialist advice." “We work for your results” is not just a slogan, but a promise that, for over 100 years, has contributed to the growth of a market that is now advancing thanks to those who have the courage to make “smart” decisions and invest in technology and automation. Unitec is exhibiting at Fruit Attraction on stand 7C23.