With these words we describe the weight specific handling of different products.

Sorting or weight specific classification or sometimes also defined as grading, all mean the same thing. Defined is the process by which products are grouped together according to different weight classes/categories. Typical applications for the grading of products are poultry – whole birds, steaks or fish (fresh or deep frozen, packed or unpacked).

Products are sorted according to size (= weight). For these applications we offer the USS (Universal Sorting System)

Equalizing (to create uniformity) or combination weighing (to find the optimum weight combinations) are words used in reference to the packing of sliced products like sliced cold meats, cheese etc. Equalizing describes the process of creating fixed-weight batches using products with different individual weights. These products are commonly cut by a slicing machine and price-labelled individually according to their exact weight. After the labelling process they need to be packed into cartons which have a uniform fixed weight.

In some instances equalizing also needs to be carried out with unpacked products, when for example different poultry pieces need to be combined into one tray with fixed weight.

Products are sorted according to size (= weight). For packed and price-labelled products we offer the UES (Universal Equalizing System) which does not require a load cell – because weight measurements are being transmitted directly from the price-labelling machine. For unpacked products we offer the USS (Universal Sorting System).

A USS machine consists of an independent checkweigher LWS 1500 in combination with a sorting system with 4, 8 or 12 channels. The sorting system works with pushers or flaps depending on the type of products sorted. Products are being sorted into appropriate containers which can vary from bag filling devices for manual operation, roller containers for easier transport to the packing area, conveyers with automatic delivery to bag-filling machines or roller conveyers for sensitive products. In some cases the machine also includes a free-standing conveyer for manual product feed-in. The system is made of stainless steel with IP 65 or 66 protections.

A UES machine consists of an operating unit with a belt-bridge which leads over from the price-labelling machine to the sorting system with 4, 6, 8 or 12 channels with pushers or flaps depending on the type of products to be equalized. Products are being sorted into appropriate channels. These can vary from a packing table with simple containers to bag-filling devices or roller-conveyers for sensitive products. The UES can also be equipped with an automatic robot filling-system. The UES machine is connected directly to the price-labelling machine via direct data link. It therefore does not require an independent load cell. The individual product weights, which are needed for algorithmic calculations, are being transmitted from the price-labelling machine to the UES machine. The process of equalizing takes place immediately (in real time). The machine starts filling the first channel with any product which comes - up to the point of reaching an arithmetically critical value. The rest of the products are only sorted into the first channel, if their weight corresponds to the weight needed in order to arrive at the appropriate target weight of the channel. If this is not the case, the next channel (channel 2) will be filled (up to its arithmetically critical value). If cartons are being packed manually, a signal notifies the operator “when a channel has reached its target weight”. Only after verifying that the channel has been emptied, can the channel start to be filled again. The system is made of stainless steel with an IP 65 protection.

The Unisort Software which is common to the UES and USS machines allows for sorting (classification or grading) as well as equalizing (combination weighing). Sorting and equalizing operations can be carried out simultaneously. Each channel can be programmed individually for different types of tasks. The data input is very user-friendly, using only one input-window. Numerous options enable the user to operate the machine according to very specific requirements. The “statistics” option offers a wide range of statistical production data together with an optional printer for print-outs.

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