Tomra Food has unveiled its most advanced optical sorting machine to date — the Tomra 4C — designed to streamline operations and elevate product quality for nut and individually quick frozen (IQF) processors.
Announced by Kristof Franckx, product manager for Tomra’s chute portfolio, the Tomra 4C is engineered to reduce downtime and simplify daily tasks on the sorting line. Pre-set for immediate integration, the machine eliminates the need for complex setup or frequent adjustments, offering processors a plug-and-play solution that prioritises efficiency.
What sets the Tomra 4C apart is its ability to maintain a false reject rate of less than 1% while detecting a broad spectrum of defects and environmental foreign materials. This precision enables processors to protect yield without compromising quality.
The machine combines next-generation pulsed LED sensors with artificial intelligence, marking a significant leap in user-friendly automation. Notably, the Tomra 4C will be the first bulk sorter to run the full spectrum of AI in tandem, including LUCAi — Tomra’s proprietary deep learning platform.
LUCAi, already proven in apple, blueberry, cherry, and citrus sorting, will soon be available for almonds. Pre-trained on common defects, LUCAi ensures consistent performance across batches and shifts, regardless of operator experience.
“Tomra 4C is not just a machine — it’s a smarter way to sort,” said Franckx. “It’s built to help processors save time, reduce costs, and raise the bar for quality.”
Processors can experience the Tomra 4C first-hand at TOMRA’s demo halls in Leuven (Belgium), Sacramento (USA), Bangalore (India), and Xiamen (China). The machine will also be showcased at Pack Expo 2025 in Las Vegas, running from September 29 to October 1.
