Company: Key Technology, Walla Walla, WA

Website: www.key.net

Equipment Snapshot: DateSort, Key Technology’s newest entry-level, digital sorter for grading dates, combines mechanical pre-cleaning to remove foreign material (FM) with optical sorting to grade dates by size. The compact, mobile model also eliminates manual sorting and improves operating efficiencies, according to the company. Focused on accurate size grading and basic FM removal, DateSort handles 3 to 4 metric tons (3.3 to 4.4 tons) per hour. Key Technology adds that it is the world’s first gravity-fed sorter for dates and the first date sorter designed for use at receiving, where processors collect product from farmers.