Payne’s Pecans has introduced X-ray inspection technology from WECO to improve quality control, increase processing throughput and reduce its reliance on manual sorting at its operation in Rich Hill, Missouri.
The family-owned pecan cleaning business handles up to two million lb (907,000kg) of in-shell pecans annually for local growers. The company installed WECO’s Multiscan MXV-Bulk X-ray inspection system after identifying internal quality defects as a particular challenge for conventional visual inspection.
Unlike optical sorting systems, which identify external characteristics including colour, size, shape and surface condition, the MXV-Bulk analyses differences in density inside individual nuts. This enables the system to identify defects that may not be visible externally, including insufficient kernel fill, while also detecting dense foreign material such as stones.
Looking beneath the shell
At Payne’s Pecans, the X-ray system is positioned towards the end of the processing line, after pre-cleaning equipment has removed much of the lightweight debris and more obvious foreign material.
Pecans pass through the inspection area on a channel belt designed to keep the product stable and evenly distributed. X-ray images are then analysed by the system, with air valves used to remove nuts that fall outside the specified parameters.
This approach addresses an important challenge for in-shell nut processors, where external appearance does not necessarily indicate the condition or quantity of the edible kernel inside.
Payne’s reported that its average pecan grade increased from 40 to 44 following installation. The processor also said its A-grade lots now contain less than 1% lower-grade product, compared with the 2–3% it describes as generally accepted within the sector.
The MXV-Bulk technology can also be configured for other in-shell nuts, including walnuts, pistachios and peanuts. WECO says it is capable of detecting defects such as empty shells, insect damage and internal mould, alongside foreign materials including glass, ceramics and embedded metal.
Reducing pressure on manual sorting
Automation has also changed the labour requirements at the end of Payne’s processing line.
Before the X-ray system was introduced, between six and eight employees were required to inspect pecans manually. The company now uses one person for final inspection after the product has passed through the MXV-Bulk system.
With inspection no longer acting as the same constraint on the production line, Payne’s estimates that throughput has increased by between 2,000 and 3,000lb (907–1,361kg) per hour.
The installation reflects a broader move towards combining different inspection technologies within nut processing. Optical sorters can assess visible attributes, while aspiration and separation equipment can remove material according to characteristics such as weight. X-ray technology adds another layer by analysing internal density and identifying defects that would otherwise remain concealed inside the shell.
WECO developed the MXV-Bulk through collaboration with Multiscan Technologies. Both businesses operate within Duravant, with the system combining Multiscan’s X-ray inspection technology with WECO’s experience in nut processing and sorting.
The technology is available for in-shell nut processing applications worldwide, as manufacturers increasingly look towards automated inspection to improve consistency, manage labour requirements and strengthen product quality control.
