Petkus' first advanced optical sorter OS f3.0 in the southern hemisphere elevates Pyrethrum seed sorting for natural insecticide production

Petkus' Australian customer overseeing extensive hectares of Pyrethrum daisies, recently integrated the advanced optical sorter OS f3.0 at their production facility. This marks a milestone, as it is the first customer in the Southern Hemisphere to process their fine seeds with this advanced technology.

Australian-grown Pyrethrum daisies (Tanacetum cinerariifolium) are a source of Pyrethrins. They serve as the key active ingredient in superior natural insecticides, renowned for their potent insecticidal properties, short residual, and low environmental persistence.

Pyrethrum seeds present a unique challenge in sorting, with a thousand kernel weight of 1.2 grams and small dimensions ranging from 4 to 4.5 millimeters. Precision sorting is imperative to ensure product quality and efficacy.

The OS f3.0 optical sorter has been meticulously designed to address these challenges, effectively removing unwanted seeds such as Lolium spp. (Ryegrass), Anthriscus caucalis (Burr chervil), and Torilis nodosa (Knotted hedge parsley).

Its advanced technology identifies low-quality and empty seeds and detects double/multiple pyrethrum seeds and plant material to ensure the purity of the seed lot. 

The OS f boasts unparalleled capabilities in cleaning small seeds at the highest quality level, surpassing standard color sorters. Its innovative material transport system, synchronized with a high-precision ejection system, guarantees precise sorting. Equipped with a full-color camera system, the OS f detects even the slightest differences to ensure the purest seed lots. Its versatility extends to sorting seeds smaller than one millimeter and accommodating various shapes, from round to arbitrarily shaped, making it adaptable to diverse processing lines.

The successful installation of the OS f was made possible through Petkus' partnership with GTE Technology, who expertly completed the installation and commissioning at the client's production facility. With the introduction of this cutting-edge technology, Petkus' customer can anticipate enhanced efficiency, productivity, and ultimately, a superior natural insecticide product.