UNITEC at Macfrut 2026: technologies creating value across the fruit and vegetable supply chain

UNITEC renewed its forty-year presence at Macfrut 2026, where it exhibited in Hall B1 - Booth 075, reaffirming its commitment to developing high-technology solutions for the global fruit and vegetable industry. The company focuses on technologies designed to generate value in packing houses, improve process efficiency and respond to the demands of an increasingly competitive market.

100 years of experience and technology adapted to every fruit

Together with its UNI ROBOTICS and UNISORTING divisions, the company covers every phase of fruit and vegetable handling, from project design and the production of mechanical, electrical, electronic and software components, to advanced automation systems, robotics, traceability and the selection of each fruit’s external and internal quality through high-definition vision systems.

Its range of solutions continues to evolve through the use of the latest generation of artificial intelligence models, helping to accelerate processes, optimise costs and address key factors such as the shelf life of each fruit.

UNITEC’s distinctive value is based on an integrated supply chain vision, with automated lines that accompany products from intake to packing, aiming to maximise packing house profitability, facilitate access to demanding markets and provide retailers with products aligned with end-consumer preferences.

UNITEC technologies for all stages of the supply chain

According to company data, more than 450 billion fruits are selected every year by UNITEC technologies, equivalent to around 55 fruits per person worldwide annually.

A significant share of sorted fruit does not meet fresh market standards. Thanks to these technologies, such fruit can be redirected to other uses, helping to reduce waste and losses. UNITEC estimates that its solutions help revalue 50 billion fruits every year.

Innovation and dialogue serving the fruit and vegetable industry

Macfrut represented an important opportunity for exchange and dialogue with industry professionals. In this context, UNITEC showcased its latest technological innovations, developed in response to an increasingly demanding and competitive global market.

VISION 4.0 AI, Artificial intelligence redefining external quality selection standards

One of the highlights of this edition was VISION 4.0 AI, the latest evolution of UNITEC’s sorting platforms, an AI-powered system capable of identifying and separating external defects with a high level of precision. The result is fruit and vegetables sorted with greater uniformity, reinforced quality standards and faster operations. Featured at the stand was the Cherry Tunnel with CHERRY VISION 4.0 AI, capable of scanning 100% of each individual cherry through advanced artificial intelligence models. 

In addition to standard parameters, the system can also classify difficult-to-detect cuts and insect damage, defects that until now were complex to identify automatically. Approximately 13% of harvested cherries do not reach consumers in good condition. Through its patented CHERRY VISION solutions, UNITEC states that it helps prevent the waste of more than 20 billion cherries every year while protecting the market image of this fruit.

Internal quality selection systems UNIQ

UNITEC lines equipped with UNIQ technology enable highly reliable internal quality selection while fully preserving the integrity of each fruit.

At the trade show, the company presented the Avocado Tunnel with UNIQ AVOCADOS, whose main strength lies in detecting dry matter, a parameter not visible to the naked eye and especially relevant in avocado quality assessment.

UNI ROBOTICS - intelligent automation

UNI ROBOTICS, a UNITEC Group brand, develops robotic solutions designed to support daily operations in fruit and vegetable packing houses, making workflows smoother and more precise while reducing the risk of product damage.

Automated packing and palletising help optimise labour resources while relieving operators from repetitive and physically demanding tasks.

UNI SMART PACKER - packing robot

Among the technologies on display was UNI SMART PACKER, an innovative packing solution for a phase where robotics is becoming increasingly common. The system reduces labour needs in repetitive and high-intensity tasks while ensuring consistent production.

UNI SMART TRAY FILLER combined with the automatic cell tray denester

UNITEC also presented UNI SMART TRAY FILLER, combined with the automatic cell tray denester. This automatic filler allows different fruit varieties such as apples, peaches and nectarines to be packed in cell trays or in cell trays placed inside crates. Fruit picking and placement into trays is carried out by a multi-head robot with a pick-and-place function, capable of adjusting picking and deposit coordinates according to fruit size and packaging format.

Incoming fruit is channelled and separated on a transport system. Thanks to the integrated vision system, fruit is correctly oriented and prepared for collection. The technology stands out for its high working capacity and optimised use of space.

UNI SAMPLE FRUIT

Another solution exhibited was UNI SAMPLE FRUIT, a technology that inspects the surface layer of fruit contained in crates through an optical acquisition system. The parameters analysed include size, colour and external defects. It is also possible to integrate Brix degree and acidity measurement on request. The system issues a sampling report for the analysed crates within the batch under  xamination.

Customer proximity and international support

The UNITEC Group is organised into operational units that oversee the main stages of the production chain, including after-sales service, ensuring professional and efficient support.

Customer proximity is supported through a structured assistance system with 20 branch offices in key fruit and vegetable countries, including Washington, California and Oregon in the United States, France, Spain, Portugal, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Peru, Türkiye, Australia and Canada. In addition, the group has a commercial structure that allows it to respond to customer needs in more than 65 countries worldwide.

"We work for your results" is not only a claim, but the company’s approach to supporting more competitive producers, exporters expanding into new markets and local companies growing into global players.

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