PROJECT
Sejet plant Breeding, Denmark
Quality has always been central to Sejet Plant Breeding. But when it came to cleaning grain and pulses, manual defect removal proved slow and inefficient. Addressing this challenge sparked a process that dramatically improved product quality—fully automated, with no manual labor.
Sejet Plant Breeding, founded in 1947 and owned by DLG and Novo Holding, is a modern, research-driven breeding company that combines hands-on field work with advanced biotechnological methods. They work closely with leading Danish and European universities, as well as international breeding and seed companies, to drive innovation in plant breeding. Each year, they develop new cereal and faba bean varieties by crossing elite and exotic material, delivering improved characteristics and leading varieties for Denmark and many European markets.
the initial thoughts
Several years ago, Sejet was looking for a mechanical solution for sorting mixed crops, such as faba beans and peas. Together with Willem Verbeek from Westrup, Steffen Thomsen, trial technician at Sejet, found a solution that worked well. During their discussions, the possibility of optical sorting was introduced, and the idea planted a seed.
As the need for greater flexibility and higher quality grew, Sejet took the next step and explored the market for optical sorters. During the evaluation phase, the requirements were clear: the machine had to handle both very small batches down to just 50 grams per batch, as well as larger batches, and be able to sort crops with a wide variation in size, from rapeseed to faba beans, to meet the requirements of the company’s workload.
reaching a decision
“We have a very good collaboration with Westrup and Willem, and have always felt that we are on the same wavelength, we can speak freely and together we always find a solution that works perfectly for our breeding facility. We chose the Optica Mini from 3U Vision through Westrup because it can handle even very small batches without compromising sorting quality. At the same time, its compact size fits perfectly into our facilities,” Steffen Thomsen explains.
Before a decision could be made, it was necessary to thoroughly investigate the market and determine whether an optical sorter was the right choice for the Jutland-based company. Sejet had no prior experience with optical sorters, so extensive groundwork was required to assess whether the investment would pay off and whether the machine could meet their specified requirements.
The dialogue between Westrup and Sejet is described as both honest and trust-based; a collaboration that has lasted many years and is built on a deep understanding of Sejet’s needs.
The installation process itself went smoothly. The machine was manufactured in Italy by 3U Vision, and during the waiting period Sejet received detailed drawings that made it possible to prepare the existing production line and make room for the new machine. The installation and subsequent training with both 3U Vision and Westrup’s technicians ensured that Steffen and the team were ready to use the machine from day one.
Steffen Thomsen continues: “In addition, the user-friendly system, intuitive recipe management, and easy cleaning have been major advantages in our daily work. It makes it easy for us to maintain the high quality level we aim for, as we can clean the machine between each batch quickly and thoroughly. In this way, the machine fully lives up to our ambitions—without wasting time on cleaning or constantly adjusting the recipes and adding color patterns.”
Sejet has adapted the Fenix Mini to handle the wide variation in batch sizes tested at the breeding facility by adding two adjustable outlets. These outlets can direct throughput into small trays beneath the machine, which is the standard configuration, or accommodate medium and large batches by attaching extenders that guide the product into trays of different sizes.
Outcome & Benefits
Although it is still too early to present statistical results, the effect is evident: the purity of the cleaned product is higher. The machine sorts based on far more parameters than expected and has proven capable of much more than classic color sorting alone.
Another major benefit is the working environment. Employees spend far less time on manual labor and no longer have to sit and sort by hand. This has reduced time and made the process more efficient.
A positive surprise has been the machine’s ability to detect minimal color differences, for example, beans that have been attacked by beetles and reveal themselves only through a microscopic color change around the exit hole.
In addition, the optical sorter has proven effective at removing ergot, a challenge Sejet has been working on for years.
Steffen explains that for Sejet, the investment also has strategic importance. By removing defects earlier in the process, the margin of error for unusable seeds is reduced, a clear advantage at a time of stricter regulations on pesticides and insecticides. At the same time, the solution provides increased flexibility and future-proofs production, as a higher proportion of impure goods is expected in future harvests due to the EU’s growing requirements to reduce the use of chemicals in agriculture. If the company has to consider intercropping crops in the future, they are also ready for this.
Sejets’ predictions are clear: optical sorting will only become more important in the coming years. The investment is not only relevant here and now, but also in the long term.
Thank you to Sejet Plant Breeding I/S for the great cooperation and for allowing us to write this case.
This project is one of many we have installed across the world with large variations in demands, cleaning needs, and budgeting.
This case description has been approved by Sejet Plant Breeding.
Click to learn more: Sejet Plant Breeding
Contact:
For more information about this project or to explore how the 3U Vision Optical Sorters can elevate your own operations, please reach out to:
Willem Verbeek
Director, Global Sales Support &
Internal Sales
Oleksiy Vovk
Regional Sales Manager & Global Sales Manager 3U
