Industry overview:

The global sorting machines market size was estimated at USD 3.81 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 6.10 billion in 2028.The optical sorter product segment led the market with a revenue share of over 56% in 2020. Optical sorters are widely used in the food industry across the world, with the increased penetration in the processing of harvested foods including, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and potatoes, where it achieves non-destructive, 100% inspection in-line at full production volumes. They are also used in various industries including nutraceutical, tobacco processing, waste recycling, and pharmaceutical. In the waste recycling industry, they have applications in identifying and discarding manufacturing waste, such as cardboard, metals, drywall, and various plastics.

The Rice, Flour, Feed, Oilseeds, Nuts, Pulses, Maize, Food & Beverage industry led the market with a revenue share of over 41% in 2020. Food growers, processors, and packers use these machines to sort a variety of fresh, whole products & processed foods to minimize waste and maximize output. In the coffee industry, the product demand is witnessing significant growth owing to its ability to identify and eliminate underdeveloped coffee beans. In the plastic industry, the product discards different types of plastics by differentiating resin types. Resin sorting machines can identify different types of resins including PVC, PE, HDPE, and PLA. They also help in recycling since the discarded materials are stored in bins. These factors are driving the market growth positively.

The pharmaceutical industry is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2021 to 2028 as these machines are useful for sorting tablets and capsules by weight for quality control. Various pharmaceutical companies are using it as it improves product quality as well as production. These machines are used in the mining industry to sort industrial minerals and precious metals. The key factors that are driving the sorting machines market include its ability to sort all products irrespective of their size, shape, and color resulting in its increased adoption in various end-use industries, for increasing efficiency, improving accuracy and reducing the cost of production.

Europe led the global market with the largest revenue share of over 33% in 2020. The Asia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest-growing regional market over the forecast period as industries are concentrating on automation to increase productivity and quality.