Optical Sorter Market

The Optical Sorter Market is expected to grow from USD 3.2 billion in 2026 to USD 5.7 billion by 2033, reflecting strong industry expansion and registering a CAGR of 8.5% during the forecast period from 2026 to 2033.

Optical Sorter Market Benefits from the Continued Quest for Reduced Delivery and Processing Times

Optical sorters separate the products that do not meet the standards established in the database-based on color, shape, size, and chemical makeup. Over the projected period, it is anticipated that rising government and the related regulatory body attempts to maintain tight standards for food quality would fuel demand for optical sorters. FSSAI released 27 new food standards laws in January 2019 and prioritized implementing new food quality standards established in 2018. The rules governing alcoholic drinks, food fortification, advertising and claims, packaging, pesticide residues, tolerance levels for antibiotics, and pharmacologically active compounds are just a few of the important regulations. Another important factor fueling optical sorter market growth is the increased desire to reduce delivery and processing times.

Optical sorting helps enhance product quality, maximize throughput, and increase yields while lowering labor costs compared to human sorting, which is arbitrary and unpredictable. The difficulty for the sorting systems used by the food processing facilities is that the feedstock is frequently not homogeneous. Deploying AI-enabled systems that can continuously enhance sorting algorithms has become necessary due to this. Additionally, it is anticipated that the ongoing development of new hardware and software components will boost the usability of optical sorting systems and open up new business prospects across various end-user sectors.

Optical Sorter Market: COVID-19 Impact

The optical sorter market has been impacted by the onset and spread of COVID-19. Due to the closure of manufacturing facilities, the COVID-19 epidemic has significantly hampered countries with export-oriented economies from a regional perspective. The mining sector of the economy is most affected. The growth of the mining and recycling infrastructure slowed in the first half of 2020. It continued slowly in 2021 due to a slowdown in hardware supply and a reduction in production capacity. The COVID-19 pandemic had the least effect on the food business. Food products are regarded as necessities. Hence the increase in demand for wholesome, hygienic food during COVID-19 drove the demand for optical sorters in the food business.

Rising Number of Sectors are Focusing on Automation to Boost Production and Drive Optical Sorter Market

By lowering errors and increasing productivity, automation helps firms operate better. Several sectors are focusing more on automation to speed up procedures and keep the quality of finished goods. These industries can speed up procedures, increase hygiene, and reduce manual labor due to this strategy. A promising sign for optical sorter market expansion is the increasing automation in key optical sorter target industries, such as food, recycling, and mining. Such food and plastic waste, novel and clever solutions have been implemented recently to manage and minimize certain waste. The demand for this technology is rising as automated sorting becomes increasingly important in many food processing activities to ensure uniform product quality and traceability of all foreign elements. As a result, there is a growing need for optical sorters in food applications to boost production and cut costs. For its 500-ton rice manufacturing line, Hubei National Treasure Bridge Rice (China) ordered 12 Meyer AI color sorters in December 2020. Meyer Optoelectronic Technology sold these optical sorters (China). This will drive the market.

Modern Detecting Technologies and Simplicity of Use are Driving Optical Sorter Market

Optically sorted products can improve product quality, yield, and processing processes thanks to recent detection technologies and intelligent software developments. Despite these developments, manufacturers continue to face many difficulties, chiefly related to the complexity of operating optical sorters. To circumvent these difficulties, recent software advancements concentrate on user-friendly devices that allow processors to regulate rejection requirements. Optical devices are improving intelligence while also making operating them simpler. To track optical sorter performance metrics, sophisticated statistics and data analysis tools are readily available. Monitoring groups of machines and adjusting mechanical separation equipment and optical sorters are made easier by integrating data generated by optical sorters into the main PLC (programmable logic controller) or SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system throughout the MRF (material recovery facility). The effective application of these cutting-edge systems can also enhance yield and reduce waste. As a result, the need for optical sorters in various end-user applications is anticipated to increase as technology advances. This will drive the optical sorter market.

High Initial Capital Expenditure Needed for Sorting Machine Deployment will Restrain Optical Sorter Market

Equipment for optical sorting is more expensive because it uses complex technology. Even though optical sorters serve to increase process effectiveness and final product quality, their high initial cost may put off certain potential end users with tight budgets. The cost of ancillary equipment, such as facilities for compressed air supply, dust removal, washing systems, additional crushing, and sizing equipment, and the cost of optional equipment like conveyors to feeders, sorting crates, containers, and conveyors from outlet to collecting containers, is included in the capital investment for the deployment of optical sorters in addition to the cost of the optical sorting machine. It also includes the total price of installing the system. Due to the high cost of this equipment, food processing businesses or other end users that plan to install them in their facilities would have a lengthier ROI time. However, adopting this technology enables businesses to achieve long-term cost benefits because optical sorters help lower labor expenses and increase productivity. This will limit the optical sorter market.

Camera Category Dominates Optical Sorter Market Based on Greater Precision, Ability to Identify the Smallest Product Flaws

The camera category held the largest market share, and it is anticipated that it will continue to rule the optical sorter market during the forecast period. Camera-based optical sorters are favored in many sectors, including recycling and the food industry since they are more precise and can find even the smallest product flaws. In the quick-frozen vegetable and fruit processing sector, camera sorting equipment is the most efficient and perfect optical food sorting equipment. The TOMRA's (Norway) Blizzard illustrates a camera-based optical sorting system with pulsed LED technology to sort frozen vegetables and fruits. The RGB full-color series cameras are also perfect for applications that require several colors or subtle shade differences. As a result, camera-based sorters are the perfect platform and series for spotting and classifying by minute shade and color differences, speck flaws, foreign objects, bug damage, mildew, deteriorating goods, and other things.

Hyperspectral Cameras and Combined Sorters Leading Category in Optical Sorter Market

The hyperspectral cameras & combined sorters category held the largest market share, and it is anticipated that it will continue to rule the optical sorter market during the forecast period. The elimination of FM (foreign material) and EVM (extraneous vegetable matter) is increased by this method, which frequently achieves efficiency with very low false reject rates. To recognize the specific fingerprint of the material, hyperspectral cameras are used. The detection of rock minerals from airborne images and the detection of foreign components in food processing are two applications and industries where hyperspectral imaging (HSI) has been applied. Hyperspectral imaging is progressively replacing X-rays, RGB cameras, and 3D models as a practical alternative or addition for quality assessment. Comparatively, combined sorters combine many sorting technologies to produce the best possible results. For instance, a high-resolution camera and dual laser units are used in the TOMRA 3C freefall optical sorter by TOMRA (Norway).

North America to Dominate Optical Sorter Market in Line with Rapid Technology Updates

Over the forecast period, it is anticipated that the North America optical sorter market will account for the largest revenue share because optical sorting equipment is becoming more common in the food business. Population expansion, technological development, expanding industries, robust industrial sectors, and overall demand for automation are all contributing causes to this growth. Automated sorting is a crucial technology for many food processing companies in North America. Another element fueling the expansion of this market is the existence of stringent food safety laws. Because the U.S. places a lot of emphasis on waste management, recycling is another important application area in North America. The region's well-established infrastructure for mining applications is another factor in expanding the North American market. One of the nations where the demand for optical sorters is increasing is the U.S. is due to automation in the mining, recycling, and food industries.

Asia Pacific optical sorter market is anticipated to experience stable revenue growth throughout the forecast period because there are reputable optical sorters manufacturers nearby. Due to the area's huge population, which fuels market expansion, the area also has many food processing manufacturers. The area in which the company operates is comprised of companies like Sortex & Rice, Grain Logistics, Grain Milling, Grinding & Dispersion, Leybold Optics, and others. These players are creating cutting-edge sorters for this region's food and recycling industries. For instance, Inaba Peanuts Co., Ltd., a food processing manufacturer with headquarters in Japan, deployed the TOMRA 5B sorter in June 2022 to improve production volumes and product consistency. It is used to sort a variety of delicacies, including fried beans, cashews, almonds, chestnuts, fish, dried plums, and walnuts.

Global Optical Sorter Market: Competitive Landscape

In March 2021, TOMRA ACT, a new user interface, a new image processing pipeline, and more process data for TOMRA Insight were all introduced by TOMRA. These innovations improve the overall sorting process for higher productivity and profitability. Similarly, in October 2020, digital sorter VERYX BioPrint was introduced by Key Technology (U.S.). Near-infrared (NIR) hyperspectral detection and color cameras can be used together in the sorter. It also examines a more comprehensive set of data about the materials it sorts to enhance detection performance and increase process yield.

A few of the players in the optical sorter market are:

• TOMRA Systems ASA
• Bühler Group
• Key Technology, Inc.
• Satake Corporation
• Cimbria A/S
• Binder+Co AG
• Pellenc ST
• Sesotec GmbH
• CP Manufacturing, Inc.
• Meyer Optoelectronic Technology Inc.
• National Recovery Technologies (NRT)
• GREEFA
• Taiho Industries Co., Ltd.
• Steinert GmbH
• Raytec Vision S.p.A.

Global Optical Sorter Market is Segmented as Below:

By Type

• Camera Sorter
• Lasers Sorter
• Near Infrared (NIR) Sorter
• Hyperspectral Cameras & Combined Sorter
• Others

By End-User

• Food and Beverages
• Waste Recycling
• Mining
• Pharmaceutical
• Others

By Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Middle East & Africa
• Latin America