Used Flower sorting machines

About second-hand Flower sorting machines

Used flower sorting machines for sale

Are you looking for a used flower sorting machine for sorting, processing, bunching and possibly packaging cut flowers? Flower sorting machines are used to assess flowers quickly and consistently and divide them into different grades. Depending on the machine, flowers can be sorted by stem length, weight, stem thickness, flower size, bud size, maturity, quality or a combination of several characteristics.

Professional flower processing ranges from simple manual and semi-automatic sorting lines to highly advanced automatic flower processing lines. Well-known examples include the Bercomex Furora and Havatec Quality Buncher, which can automate not only sorting but also several operations involved in assembling and processing flower bunches.

Flower sorting machines are mainly used by flower growers, flower processors, exporters, suppliers and packing companies that process large quantities of cut flowers efficiently and consistently. Mechanising the sorting process can increase processing capacity and help produce uniform batches and bunches.

At Duijndam Machines, depending on current availability, you can find various used flower sorting machines and flower processing lines from manufacturers such as Bercomex, Havatec, Jamafa, BTM and Aweta. Older machines may also carry names such as Van den Berg, Compas, Olimex and Potveer.

What is a flower sorting machine?

A flower sorting machine is a machine or complete sorting line that divides cut flowers into predefined quality or size grades. Flowers are generally placed individually or in small groups on an infeed conveyor, chain, product holder or other transport system. During transport, one or more characteristics are measured or assessed before the flower is directed to the appropriate sorting outlet.

Depending on the configuration, flowers can be sorted by stem length, weight, stem thickness, flower diameter, flower size, bud size, maturity, quality, stem curvature, damage and defects, number of side branches, product type and predefined quality class.

Simple systems may rely partly on manual assessment, while advanced automatic flower sorting machines can use sensors, weighing systems, cameras and image processing. Modern flower processing lines can go further by integrating cutting, defoliating, counting, collecting, bunching, binding and discharge.

Different types of flower sorting machines

The correct type depends on the flower species, required capacity, sorting criteria, number of grades and desired level of automation.

Flower sorting machines by length

A flower length sorting machine sorts flowers according to stem length. Length grading is one of the most common methods in cut-flower processing because uniform stems are important when producing consistent bunches and preparing flowers for further processing and packaging.

Flowers can be divided into short, medium, long and extra-long categories or fixed centimetre classes. Length sorting can be used for roses, tulips, lilies, chrysanthemums, gerberas, alstroemerias, carnations and various summer flowers.

Flower sorting machines by weight

A flower sorting machine with weighing system weighs individual flowers during transport. Depending on the crop, weight can form part of the quality or size classification. Weight sorting may be used independently or combined with length measurement and camera inspection.

Flower sorting machines with cameras

A camera flower sorting machine uses camera technology and image processing to measure or assess characteristics such as stem length and thickness, flower or bud size, shape, colour, maturity, curvature, damage and other visible quality characteristics.

When purchasing a used camera sorting machine, it is important to check the actual functions of the specific machine. Cameras, software, controls and available sorting options vary considerably by manufacturer, model, year and configuration.

Manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic sorting lines

On a manual flower sorting line, flowers pass employees who visually assess them and divide them into the required grades. Such systems can be suitable for smaller volumes, many different flower varieties or highly variable batches.

Semi-automatic machines combine automatic and manual operations. For example, length or weight may be measured automatically while an operator assesses quality.

A fully automatic flower sorting machine can combine infeed, product detection, length measurement, weighing, camera assessment, quality classification, sorting, counting, collecting, bunching, cutting, binding and transport to subsequent processing or packaging equipment.

Sorting and bunching

Many flower sorting machines have multiple sorting outlets or collection positions. Each can correspond to a particular length, weight, quality or combination of characteristics.

After sorting, flowers often need to be assembled into bunches. A sorting machine can therefore be combined with a flower bunching machine or bunching system. Depending on the installation, flowers can be counted, collected, aligned, bunched, bound, fitted with an elastic band, cut to length and discharged.

The combination of sorting and bunching is particularly important in modern flower processing. Bercomex and Havatec have developed systems integrating several of these operations.

Havatec Quality Buncher and Potveer Quality Buncher

The Havatec Quality Buncher is an important machine in this category. These systems automate operations involved in assessing, sorting and assembling cut flowers into bunches. Quality assessment and bunch formation are combined within an automated processing concept.

Depending on the model and configuration, various product characteristics can be used to assess and distribute flowers before they are assembled into uniform bunches.

Older used machines may be found under the name Potveer Quality Buncher. Potveer is a historical name in flower processing mechanisation, and Quality Buncher technology later became associated with Havatec. Consequently, buyers searching for a used Havatec Quality Buncher may also encounter a Potveer Quality Buncher.

Bercomex Furora flower processing and sorting machines

Another important name in automated flower processing is the Bercomex Furora. Furora is designed for extensive automation of cut-flower processing, combining various stages of assessment, sorting and subsequent processing within one line.

A Furora should therefore not be regarded merely as a conventional sorting machine with several outlets, but as part of the broader category of automatic flower processing and sorting lines.

When considering a used Bercomex Furora, important factors include configuration, suitable flower varieties, capacity, camera and measuring technology, processing positions, software and controls, sorting and bunching functions, peripheral equipment and integration with an existing flower processing line.

Additional processing equipment

Some sorting lines include or can be connected to a cutting unit, allowing stems to be cut to a uniform commercial length. Certain lines can also incorporate a defoliator to remove leaves from the lower part of the stem.

A complete line can therefore perform a sequence such as: feeding → defoliating → measuring → assessing → sorting → cutting → counting → bunching → binding → packaging.

Sorting roses, tulips and other cut flowers

Rose sorting machines can assess roses by stem length, stem thickness, bud size, weight, maturity, quality, stem straightness and damage. Automated systems with cameras, sorting and bunching can reduce several manual processing operations.

Tulip sorting machines can grade tulips according to length, weight, thickness, development, quality and damage. Tulip sorting lines can also be combined with cutting, aligning, counting, bunching, binding and packaging equipment.

Machines are also used for chrysanthemums, alstroemerias, lilies, carnations, gerberas and summer flowers. Branched flowers may require assessment based on number of side branches, volume, weight, length, flower development, shape and quality.

Not every flower sorting machine is suitable for every flower. Product holders, feeding technology, mechanical construction, software and camera settings can be crop-specific.

Brands of flower sorting machines

Bercomex is a well-known manufacturer of equipment and automation solutions for cut-flower processing. An important modern solution is the Bercomex Furora. On the used market you may also encounter historical names such as Van den Berg, Compas and Olimex. Potveer later also became part of Bercomex.

Havatec specialises in flower-processing automation and is particularly associated with the Havatec Quality Buncher. Older versions may carry the Potveer Quality Buncher name.

Jamafa is another established name in flower and horticultural mechanisation. Used Jamafa sorting and processing machines can perform various operations depending on model and configuration.

BTM machines are also found in flower sorting and processing applications. The feeding system, sorting criteria, capacity and number of sorting positions should be checked for each used machine.

Aweta is known in flower sorting for its TRX models. A used Aweta TRX flower sorting machine can divide cut flowers into different grades. The exact sorting functions, measuring equipment, capacity and configuration depend on the specific TRX model.

What to consider when buying a used flower sorting machine

When choosing a used machine, consider the flower species, sorting method, number of sorting outlets, capacity, feeding system, camera technology, weighing system, product holders, PLC and software, available product programs and integration with bunching, binding, cutting, defoliating, sleeving or packaging equipment.

Advanced installations such as the Bercomex Furora, Havatec Quality Buncher and Aweta TRX should be assessed carefully for software, controls, cameras, sensors and available parts.

Flower sorting and processing lines can require considerable floor space, so also check total dimensions, working height, outlet positions, required working space and utilities.

Buy a used flower sorting machine from Duijndam Machines

Duijndam Machines specialises in used machinery for horticulture, flowers, plants, vegetable processing and packaging lines. Depending on current availability, machines may include used flower sorting machines, rose sorting machines, tulip sorting machines, camera sorting lines, flower bunching machines and complete flower processing lines.

Brands can include Bercomex, Havatec, Jamafa, BTM, Aweta, Van den Berg, Compas, Olimex and Potveer, including systems such as the Bercomex Furora, Havatec Quality Buncher, Potveer Quality Buncher and Aweta TRX.

A used flower sorting machine can be an attractive solution for companies looking to mechanise, automate or expand their flower processing operation without immediately investing in a completely new installation.