Key Technology unveils COMPASS® Optical Sorter for chips
The COMPASS sorter is a belt-fed system engineered to detect and remove product defects and foreign materials (FM) with high precision.
USA – Key Technology, a member of Duravant’s Food Sorting and Handling Group, has launched its latest innovation in snack food processing: the COMPASS® optical sorter, designed specifically for potato chips, tortilla chips, and similar snack products.
The new system was introduced at Pack Expo Las Vegas in September 2025, marking a significant advancement in automated food inspection technology.
The COMPASS sorter is a belt-fed system engineered to detect and remove product defects and foreign materials (FM) with high precision.
Powered by Key’s advanced NEXT sort engine, it identifies imperfections such as dark spots, green discoloration, and white knot bruises, as well as contaminants like fryer debris.
With up to eight channels of multispectral sensor data and customizable camera options, COMPASS offers superior detection capabilities compared to conventional three-channel systems.
Jack Lee, President of Duravant’s Food Sorting and Handling Group, emphasized the system’s user-friendly design and operational efficiency: “COMPASS represents the next evolution in our commitment to the snack industry. We’ve developed innovations that address real operational challenges, including automatic belt tracking, intuitive controls, and clean-in-place features for extended run times between sanitation cycles.”
One of COMPASS’s standout features is its smartphone-style user interface, which enables operators to create and adjust sort recipes easily.
Even users with no technical background can become proficient in under 30 minutes.
Intelligent belt control compensates for belt stretching or shrinking, thereby reducing downtime and the need for manual adjustments.
Sanitation and maintenance have also been streamlined. The sorter features open architecture, sloped surfaces, and minimal moving parts.
Sensors and light windows are positioned to avoid product splatter, and stain-resistant belt technology ensures consistent inspection accuracy.
Specialized collection systems, such as counter-rotating brushes and scrapers, direct oil and chip debris into removable bins for safe disposal.
The belt can be quickly removed for thorough cleaning, and washdowns can be completed in as little as 15 minutes.
COMPASS is part of Key Technology’s broader portfolio, complementing its VERYX® and ADR® systems.
It reflects the company’s commitment to helping processors maximize yield, ensure food safety, and improve product quality through intelligent automation.
Early this year, Key Technology (Key) and PPM Technologies (PPM), both part of Duravant’s Food Sorting and Handling Group, launched a fully integrated nut processing line.
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