interpack 2026: Key Technology unveils defect automatic removal system for potato strips

Key Technology (Key), a member of Duravant’s Food Sorting and Handling Group, introduces an automatic defect removal system for potato strips – ADR^® X – at interpack Hall 6 / B73.  The ADR systems identify defects on wet potato strips and trim only the affected areas so more usable product can be recovered, helping processors increase yield and maximize profitability. 
 

“Potato quality isn’t consistent, but processors still need consistent results. Meanwhile, the gap between variability in raw material and customer expectations for the finished product keeps widening. At the same time, hygiene requirements are greater, skilled labor is harder to find and facilities are running longer production cycles,” said Jack Lee, Duravant Group President – Food Sorting and Handling. “As the long-time leader in automatic defect removal technology, Key redesigned its popular ADR system from the ground up with the new ADR X to address these mounting pressures.”

Building upon the field-proven technology of Key’s previous-generation ADR systems, ADR X aligns, singulates, inspects and trims both peeled and peel-on wet potato strips of various cut sizes.

New capabilities include multi-channel sensing with advanced LED lighting and strobing for accurate identification of challenging product defects such as green discoloration. Multiple images of each strip are captured under different wavelengths and combined to create clear separation between the product and background, facilitating precise trimming decisions. A true-color user interface delivers clear visualization and intuitive operation.

The system architecture of the ADR X eliminates activity above the product stream, reduces flat surfaces and integrates clean-in-place functionality to protect product quality, simplify cleaning and meet stringent sanitation requirements. Bearings and other key components are positioned for easy access to speed maintenance and support uptime in demanding production environments.
 

ADR X features recipe-driven conveying and alignment mechanics that automatically adjust based on the selected cut size. Lane profiles and strip positioning are set via the user interface, allowing the system to respond to different strip dimensions without manual tuning and supporting repeatable performance across product changeovers. New endless, reinforced belts reduce belt stretch over time, eliminate the need for in-field welding and allow belt replacement to be completed up to five times faster, which reduces replacement frequency and streamlines belt maintenance.

To maintain precise trimming as recipes change, the conveyor belt and cutter-wheel operate with independent drives. The cutter-wheel automatically repositions itself based on the selected cut size, allowing defects to be trimmed accurately while maintaining proper alignment throughout production.

Setup and maintenance tasks are further simplified through single-point adjustment mechanisms for brushes and finger racks, which reduces setup complexity and speeds changeovers.

ADR X is available as a plug-and-play system that fits within a standard shipping container to support efficient delivery and on-site setup. For processors operating existing potato strip lines, ADR X can be installed as a direct replacement for previous-generation ADR 5 systems without requiring significant layout changes.