Our process begins with meticulous analysis of raw wheat grains. We assess moisture content, protein levels, gluten strength, and check for any foreign matter, ensuring only the finest raw material proceeds to the next stage. Purchasing only certified high-quality wheat from farmers is a strategic decision that offers significant advantages, primarily in quality, consistency, and traceability. This approach ensures we receive grain originating from rigorously monitored certified seed, guaranteeing genetic and physical purity, high germination rates, and reduced disease incidence. This commitment translates directly to a superior end product for us. We benefit from uniform grain size, predictable performance, and a significant reduction in defects like foreign material or damaged kernels. Ultimately, using certified wheat minimizes our post-harvest processing needs, enhances food safety, and provides the transparency and accountability crucial for today's market.

Grains are fed into the machine, spread evenly, and precisely illuminated using visible, IR, UV, or even X-ray light. High-resolution line scan cameras capture images of each item as it passes. These cameras can detect subtle differences in color, shape, size, and even internal composition. This real-time visual and spectral data is then rapidly converted into digital information and sent to the machine's processing unit for instant analysis, effectively giving the sorter "eyes" to evaluate every single grain.

After the scanning phase captures detailed images of each grain, the "analyzing" phase comes into play. This is where the Sortex machine's intelligence processes that raw visual and spectral data.

Powerful software, often utilizing advanced algorithms and even artificial intelligence (AI), instantly evaluates each grain against pre-programmed "accept" or "reject" criteria. These criteria can be incredibly specific, focusing on:

Color: Identifying discolorations, spots, or off-colored grains.

Size and Shape: Detecting broken grains, shriveled kernels, or foreign materials that deviate from the desired size/shape.

Texture: Recognizing surface imperfections or damaged areas.

Composition (using IR/NIR/X-ray data): Identifying foreign materials like plastic, glass, or stones, or even internal defects and mycotoxins not visible to the naked eye.

This rapid analysis determines the fate of each individual grain, triggering the next step: ejection.

The "ejecting" phase is the physical act of separating the identified undesirable grains from the good ones. Immediately after a grain is analyzed and deemed defective by the processing unit, precise, high-speed mechanisms are activated. Most commonly, tiny, powerful bursts of compressed air are used. These "air jets" are strategically positioned along the product flow. When a defective grain aligns with an ejector, a precisely timed, short burst of air targets that specific grain, accurately diverting it into a separate "reject" chute or bin. Good grains, conversely, continue unimpeded along their path to the "accept" chute, ensuring a clean and high-quality final product.