UNITEC unveils AI sorting system at Fruit Attraction Madrid
Italian automation specialist UNITEC is spotlighting its new AI sorting technology at Fruit Attraction Madrid this week. The company is positioning its latest innovation as a key solution for packing houses facing rising labor shortages and quality demands.
Vision 4.0 AI is designed to detect and separate external fruit defects with never-before-seen precision level, the company claims. UNITEC says the AI sorting platform delivers consistent quality, speeds up processing, and helps producers meet the stringent standards of high-value export markets.
“Nowadays, to generate results, nature is not enough—we need technology, too!” says President Angelo Benedetti. “Only in this way can we ensure consistent quality levels that, providing satisfactory answers to consumers, will bring benefits to the entire chain.”
Beyond post-harvest handling, UNITEC is also expanding its use of artificial intelligence to earlier stages in the supply chain. The company is developing integrated systems that connect packing houses directly to production areas, enabling smarter in-field quality decisions.
“We are developing an intelligence able to directly connect the packing house to the country, providing useful information to improve quality selection already in the field,” says Benedetti. “Therefore, AI will be used not only during the handling stage, but also during harvest.”
The company is developing robotic harvesting with AI sorting technology for apples, peaches, damson plums, and kiwifruit, aligning with a broader push toward end-to-end automation that supports growers, packers, and retailers alike.
AI sorting and automation—A direct reply to industry challenges
UNITEC continues to emphasize the role of automation in mitigating two major pressures on the produce sector: labor shortages and climate variability.
“Automation is no longer an option—it is the concrete answer to the growing difficulty in finding labor,” says UNITEC Sales Director Nour Abdrabbo. “Our solutions improve productivity and efficiency, producing value for the entire chain and ensuring continuity even towards climate uncertainty.”
The company’s fully integrated lines, from post-harvest handling to packing, are designed to reduce product waste, lower operational costs, and maximize profitability.
UNITEC says each installation is customized at its R&D center in Italy to adapt to increasingly volatile growing conditions.
Global reach, with a local focus
Founded in Italy’s Romagna region, UNITEC now operates in over 65 countries with more than 20 global offices. While its roots remain in European agriculture, the company is expanding its global footprint through technology solutions that support both local and export markets.
“The technologies we present in Madrid have a precise goal: promoting customer loyalty towards the fruit produced in Europe, especially in Spain and Italy,” states Benedetti.
Through systems like UNIQ, which enable non-destructive internal quality selection based on parameters such as ripeness and sweetness, UNITEC continues to push forward tools that align with evolving consumer expectations and retailer demands.
The company’s motto, “We work for your results,” underscores its strategy to partner closely with producers aiming to improve consistency, reduce costs, and grow competitiveness in international markets.
*All photos by UNITEC
Related stories
New robotic strawberry harvester hopes to address labor shortages
Subscribe to our newsletter
