"The category of freshly cut fruit and vegetables continues to grow in Europe, the U.S., and Asia"

For many years, Sormac has been supplying advanced machines and complete processing lines for potatoes, carrots, onions, and leafy vegetables. "In recent years, our biggest innovations have been in camera and recognition technology, which allows products to be automatically detected and checked," explains Roy Lemmen, Commercial Director at Sormac.

August 27, 2025 min Reading time

OptiCor, OptiPro and PCR

From this foundation, three solutions were developed: the OptiCor, the OptiPro, and the PCR. "The OptiCor is a machine designed to core and divide iceberg lettuce. Its guidance system is equipped with a camera placed beneath the pockets. With the help of this camera, operators can easily position the lettuce heads with the core facing downward and place them accurately," explains Roy. "The camera identifies the exact position of the core, checks whether it falls within the set tolerance, and then gives a visual confirmation. This ensures precise coring and maximum yield."

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"The OptiPro is an automation system that helps optimize the processing line. It uses cameras to capture detailed images of the produce, which are then analyzed by Sormac's in-house deep learning software. This software recognizes and identifies each product," Roy continues. "And last but not least, we've introduced the PCR, a fully automated, robot-controlled bell pepper corer. Together, these innovations represent an important step toward a more reliable, efficient, and labor-saving process."

Growth markets

"The market for fresh-cut vegetables and fruit continues to expand in Europe, the U.S., and Asia," Roy says. "This growth is driven by consumer demand for healthy eating, minimally processed products, and convenience. It's especially noticeable in urban areas where busy lifestyles combine with rising prosperity in many countries. Pre-processed vegetables and fruit, such as peeled, cut, washed, and dried products, are also vital for the foodservice sector, since they save both time and labor. With our own sales offices in the Netherlands, the U.S., the UK, and Germany, along with a network of certified dealers, Sormac is well-positioned to support fresh produce processors worldwide, and we will continue to do so."

Vertical farming

Asked about the role of vertical farming for Sormac, Roy responds: "With changing weather conditions, limited available farmland, and ongoing population growth, local vegetable production will remain highly relevant. Indoor and vertical farming play an increasingly important role, since they allow year-round production close to the consumer. This reduces transport, cuts CO₂ emissions significantly, and delivers produce at a consistently high quality. With Sormac's technology, we can guarantee this quality all the way to the consumer's plate."

Acquisition of Foodcons

Earlier this year, Sormac acquired a majority stake in Foodcons, a German manufacturer of fruit and vegetable processing equipment. "The acquisition has given us a fantastic expansion of our product portfolio. Foodcons is the market leader in punching machines, and we are proud to now offer these under the Sormac label. In addition, Foodcons (now renamed Sormac GmbH) has the potential to collaborate with our R&D department in Venlo to develop new machines. Naturally, we also expect that having a strong presence in Germany will boost sales of Sormac's full product line in this key market. Recent large orders from the foodservice sector have already confirmed this expectation!"

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Text and interview by Izak Heijboer of FreshPlaza.com.

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