The botanical treasure and its “white gold”
There are around 5000 potato varieties worldwide. Over the years, new varieties have been discovered, crossed and refined. In Europe, the tuberous plant has become one of the main food sources. In Asia, the potato is also often found on the menu. It is one of the most important basic foodstuffs. And it provides a solid foundation for a healthy diet.
In terms of cultural history, the solanum (nightshade plant) has its origin in South America. In the 16th century Spanish conquerors discovered the potato in the Inca empire and brought the plant to Europe.
Today’s numerous applications of the tuber seem to have no limits. Their benefits range from the food industry, via adhesives and paper production, and even to the pharmaceutical and textile industries. The potato is also used in the production of alcohols.
The starch content plays a very significant role in all these sectors. As a result, foods can be made both more resistant to bite, and juicier. The white powder can also serve as a binder for sauces and soups. The proportion of starch has a particularly important meaning for the consistency and bonding of certain things. For example, ink would not stick to a piece of paper without the starch.
For the many different applications, the potato has to face different requirements and comply with certain standards. Regardless of the purpose for which the potato is used, it is always important to identify a healthy, undamaged, clean and harmless product at the beginning of the value chain before processing. For example, potatoes that contain the toxic substance solanin must be detected and sorted out early. Equally undesirable are contaminations, outgrowth, as well as genetically modified goods. In addition, it can be very helpful to detect pressure points before the visualization, so that the corresponding divergent item can be sorted out early.
So far, it has seemed much more difficult to measure the starch content of each individual potato on the production line. Unlike common samples, which are costly and time-consuming, LuxFlux offers a suitable alternative. We rely on hyperspectral technologies that enable complete, fast and non-contact measurement in the process.
Our software uses optical measurement techniques to analyze the products. In other words – the products to be analyzed can be checked without any physical contact. Due to the optical measuring method, there is no danger in the checking process. The quality of the objects to be examined is protected. The non-contact measuring process protects the goods from damage.
The hyper spectral technology supports the work process by analyzing the goods in real-time, classifying them by properties, and providing information (for example, good or bad) via a protocol. With the help of algorithms, the material properties are now “visible” to the human eye or to a machine. Subsequently, the desired foreign substances can be sorted out of the machine to keep the product chain as pure as possible.
Germany is known for its high standards in quality control in the food industry. They have very strict guidelines. And there are a lot of conditions and restrictions that must be adhered to.
This method enables more efficient work in a wide range of industrial sectors. Optimizing the sorting process and process analysis ensures a high standard of quality. Ultimately, it facilitates the customer’s buying decision while protecting the consumer and enhancing the reputation of their own brand.