Lasers

01 May 2025

Sort the smallest possible defects even at your highest capacity. Laser technologies offer the sensitivity and resolution to capture defects invisible to the human eye. The result: minimal good-in-bad, improved defect detection and classification, and the option to fine-tune for your unique operation and demands from your customers.

For high resolution images that can see everything from foreign materials to invisible toxins, laser sensing produces the greatest contrast between good and bad products.

Because laser sensing is more precise, more consistent, and less affected by environmental factors than other systems.

How does it work?

Lasers emit a highly concentrated, monochromatic light suitable for fine-tuning based on your applications and defects.

Our lasers produce focused light, which then enables you to obtain accurate, and repeatable data about the products that you sort and the defects. For example, you can find out more about the surface structure of your product. Being a monochromatic light means it consists of a single wavelength which means it can interact with a specific property, it allows you to focus on the good and bad.

TOMRA Food’s exclusive, proprietary laser technologies

Advanced Foreign Material Detection (AFMD)

TOMRA's AFMD technology detects and sorts product-specific features that are difficult to identify because of similar structure or characteristics. AMFD uses light not visible to the human eye. This light is both highly reflective and strongly absorbed by water, which makes it perfect for foreign material detection in fruit and vegetables. The high water content of fruit and vegetables absorbs the AMFD light. At the same time, foreign materials reflect the light,. So, product with water has a high absorption that produces a low scope signal and products without water have a high scope signal. Available on the TOMRA 5C.

Detox™

TOMRA’s Detox™ technology detects aflatoxin in peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts, and dried fruits such as figs. Our proprietary laser technique captures the incredibly low intensity of light reflected by aflatoxin and mycotoxin fungi. Once detected, the fungus becomes illuminated and reflects light with a unique fingerprint. When acknowledged as aflatoxin, all product with this unique fingerprint is then removed through the rear ejection system. Available exclusively on the TOMRA 5C.

Fluo™

Fluo™ technology uses fluorescents to sort out foods containing varying chlorophyll/solanine levels from the defects and foreign materials that do not contain chlorophyll/solanine. Particularly useful for potatoes, tomatoes, and leafy greens, detecting these levels identifies toxic and defective produce to maintain food safety. Our technologies easily detect chlorophyll degradation and the presence of solanine by sorting out: potatoes and carrots with green spots; older, wilting, or low-quality greens; other plant materials, including toxic weeds. For businesses that have strict demands and requirements from their customers, and where the margin for error must be zero or close to it, Fluo™ can reverse sort and identify foreign material based on their complete lack of chlorophyll. Available on the TOMRA 5B and TOMRA 5C.

Explore machines equipped with laser technologies

TOMRA 5B
Coupling the latest sensor technology with advanced algorithms, the TOMRA 5B belt sorter enables you to reach the most challenging quality targets and yields. Applications: Berries, Cherries, Mangoes, Pineapple, Stonefruit, Dried Fruit, Diced Peaches, Pears and Tomatoes, Diced Peaches, Pears and Tomatoes, Almonds, Cashews, Hazelnuts, Peanuts, Raisins, Walnuts, French fries, Potato Crisps, Beans, Bell Peppers, Broccoli Carrots, Cauliflower, Corn, Garlic, Green Beans, Leafy Greens, Mushrooms, Onions, Peas, Gherkins, Radishes, Spinach
Discover the TOMRA 5B
TOMRA 5C
Capable of unrivaled foreign material removal, this highly efficient machine is powerful and robust, easy to use and maintain, reduces storage needs, is easily movable, and saves on labor. Applications: Berries, Dried Fruit, Almonds, Cashews, Hazelnuts, Macadamia Nuts, Peanuts, Pecans, Pistachios, Raisins, Walnuts, Leafy Greens; IQF fruit and vegetables
Discover the tomra 5C

Explore associated technologies

Artificial Intelligence
TOMRA Food has deployed everything from the simplest forms of artificial intelligence up to the most advanced deep learning in our products for over a decade. Explore the forms of AI available on your machine.
Learn more about Artificial Intelligence
BSI+
By combining color and material attributes, BSI+ lights up even invisible defects in your product. Biometric Signature Identification (BSI+) technology combines color and material attributes to clearly identify what's good and what's bad in your products. Whether you apply it to pre-sort, regular sort, or reverse sort, BSI+ delivers an extremely concentrated reject stream while enabling high capacity.
Explore the power of BSI+
Belt
TOMRA’s Belt handling technology ensures the most stable, shadow-free inspection of produce like peas, cherries, olives, and more. By bringing light and sensors close to the product on a reflective belt, it enables high-speed sorting with unmatched accuracy—even for defects smaller than 1mm.
Learn More about Belt Handling
Chute
Chute-based sorting by TOMRA uses vibration and glide plates to inspect both sides of small products – nuts, dried fruit, IQF – with high precision, compact footprint.
Learn more about the Chute portfolio