AI and robotics drive UNITEC’s approach to efficiency in the fruit and vegetable industry

UNITEC renews its presence at Fruit Logistica 2026, the leading international event dedicated to the fruit and vegetable industry, interpreting this year’s theme – “Let’s Grow” – as a promise of real growth: measurable results for Customers, more efficient processes designed to generate greater value throughout the entire supply chain.

For more than one hundred years, UNITEC has supported fruit and vegetable packing houses worldwide with advanced technologies for internal and external quality sorting, grading and packaging of fruit, nuts and vegetables. Solutions that combine advanced automation, robotics and state-of-the-art systems, designed to handle even the most complex processes.

At the core of UNITEC’s approach lies intelligent data management, enabling full product traceability from the field to distribution. Through proprietary systems developed entirely in-house, the Group integrates IT, Artificial Intelligence and sensor technology to ensure reliability, customization and operational continuity. These technologies can be applied to more than 50 types of fruit, meeting the growing demands for internal and external quality from the market and large-scale retail.

At Fruit Logistica 2026, UNITEC, together with UNISORTING and UNI ROBOTICS, will present new solutions based on AI and robotics, extending its vision to other areas of the food industry as well. Continuous innovation, driven by the work of the Group’s internal Research and Development division, designed to provide Customers with the right technologies in an ever-evolving global context.

For UNITEC, growth means providing concrete support to the fruit and vegetable industry, helping companies enhance the value of every single fruit and tackle even the most complex challenges. In a context marked by international uncertainty, access to strategic, high-potential markets must remain a priority. For this reason, UNITEC responds with a complete technological ecosystem that enables monitoring of the entire production process and supports the Customer from the design phase through full operation, while ensuring continuous service thanks to a network of more than 20 locations worldwide.

Angelo Benedetti, President of UNITEC, highlights:

“the value we have built stems from our ability to combine nature and technology, creating solutions that support our Customers’ businesses, respond to the needs of Distribution and meet the expectations of end consumers. Our source of inspiration is the tangible impact we have generated in the fruit and vegetable sector, in terms of sustainability and measurable results.”

Nour Abdrabbo, Sales Director of UNITEC, explains:

“For us, Fruit Logistica is synonymous with growth, built through listening and collaboration with the industry.” “From dialogue with our Customers, we build connections that, together with our R&D team, we transform into Innovation—innovation that helps make the fruit and vegetable industry more efficient and sustainable over time. This is the foundation of our mission: We Work for Your Results.”

UNITEC, together with UNISORTING and UNI ROBOTICS, presents at Fruit Logistica at: HALL 4.1 STAND A-10/A-20/B-10

This is an opportunity to present the following technologies:

• Box product sampling system. This technology inspects the top layer of fruit inside the box through an optical acquisition system. The analyzed parameters include size, color and condition defects. Brix level and acidity can also be integrated upon request. The system issues a sampling report of the analyzed boxes from the inspected batch.
  
  
• UNICAL 200 Cherry grader with Cherry Vision 4.0 AI. Cherry Vision 4.0 AI is an innovative technological solution, developed entirely within UNITEC’s Research and Development department. Cherry Vision 4.0 AI integrates the most advanced artificial intelligence models, providing packing houses with a tool to address some of the most critical challenges of recent years, such as adverse climatic phenomena and the increasing incidence of insect damage in crops. Specifically, Cherry Vision 4.0 AI enables: 

• • Reliable identification of soft fruit thanks to integrated UNI AI SOFT technology
  • Detection of external defects with extremely high accuracy
  • Precise grading and sorting of each cherry, even in cases of insect damage, cuts and recent cracks

• UNICAL 10.0 grader with Avocados Sort 3 and UNIQ Avocados. Solution designed to process different types of fruit, including those with varying sizes and shapes, such as avocados, oranges and flat peaches. Fruit is processed in a non-invasive manner without causing any mechanical damage. The solution presented is dedicated to avocados.
  
  
• UNI SPEED PACK table grape line with Grape Vision and UNI GRAPES PUNNET FILLER. Solution designed for processing grape clusters manually placed on cup conveyors. Each cluster is automatically weighed and combined to reach the target weight set for the package. Grape Vision, integrated with UNI SPEED PACK technology, allows sorting of each table grape cluster (white, red or black) using adjustable parameters to achieve uniform quality, size and color within the same package, while fully preserving product integrity. Once combined, clusters are transferred to the UNI GRAPES PUNNET FILLER, the automatic packaging solution for baskets of various formats and target weights.
  
  
• Internal quality sorting systems – “UNIQ”. Continuous developments in internal quality sorting systems, developed entirely in UNITEC’s R&D department and dedicated to specific fruits in the UNIQ range: UNIQ Blueberry, UNIQ Cherry Tomato, UNIQ Kiwi, UNIQ Peach, UNIQ Mandarin, UNIQ Plum, UNIQ Cherry, UNIQ Apricot, UNIQ Orange, UNIQ Pomegranate.
  
  
• UNICAL 222 technology with Hazelnut Vision 4.0 AI. The Hazelnut Vision 4.0 AI system, a solution for hazelnut sorting, uses internally developed Artificial Intelligence models to sort hazelnuts with or without shell, raw or roasted, with maximum precision. The system detects defects with greater accuracy, as well as shape, size and color.

Technologies – UNISORTING brand of UNITEC

• UNI SMART TRAY FILLER combined with AUTOMATIC TRAY DESTACKER. Automatic filler that allows packaging of different fruit varieties, such as apples, peaches and nectarines, in molded trays or molded trays inside boxes. Fruit picking and placement in trays is carried out by a multi-head robot with “pick and place” function, which can adjust pick/place coordinates according to fruit size and packaging format. Incoming fruit is channeled and separated on a conveyor system: thanks to the integrated vision system, fruit is correctly oriented and prepared for picking. This technology is characterized by high capacity (number of fruits per minute) and optimized space usage.
  
  
• UNICAL 244 DATES grader with Dates Sort 4.0 and UNIQ Dates. Electronic grader dedicated to processing small and medium-sized products such as plums, cherry tomatoes, jujubes, olives, radishes, chestnuts, walnuts and dates (the exhibited solution is dedicated to dates). Advantages:

• • Cost reduction compared to manual processing
  • Possibility of using unskilled labour
  • Objective increase in process efficiency and product quality
  • Cost-effective mechanical and electronic maintenance
  • High performance thanks to state-of-the-art, user-friendly software
• Internal quality sorting systems – “UNIQ”. Continuous developments in internal quality sorting systems, developed entirely in UNITEC’s R&D department and dedicated to specific fruits in the UNIQ range: UNIQ Apples, UNIQ Pears, UNIQ Avocados, UNIQ Dates, UNIQ Onions.

Technologies – UNI ROBOTICS brand of UNITEC

• UNI SMART PACKER – ROBOT FOR CLAMSHELL AND HEAT-SEALED TRAY PACKAGING
  UNI ROBOTICS brand of UNITEC presents an innovative packaging solution for a process phase where robotics is increasingly used. Designed for clamshells and heat-sealed trays, UNI SMART PACKER ensures lids remain securely closed and reduces the need for labor in repetitive, high-intensity tasks, ensuring consistent production. This system combines efficiency and delicacy, protecting the packaging during handling. Its flexibility also allows rapid format changes and adaptation to different clamshell and heat-sealed tray sizes.

• ROBOTIC CELL FOR DEPALLETIZING, BUFFERING AND PALLETIZING BOXES. UNI ROBOTICS brand of UNITEC presents an innovative robotic solution designed to provide full automation, eliminating manual labor and improving the efficiency of the entire production line. This solution analyzes boxes on the pallet and calculates the optimal gripping point, ensuring correct handling and protecting the product inside. The robotic cell is also equipped with a system that automatically scans the picking area, adapting to variations in box shape, position and height through an intuitive graphical interface displayed on the screen.