Only the Best: AI Separates Grain from Chaff
Grain of ideal quality, produced on an industrial scale, is now accessible to consumers. The Altai-based company CSort has developed a photo separator that uses artificial intelligence to assess grain quality.
Smart and Fast
In the Altai Territory, artificial intelligence (AI) is being successfully applied in equipment for agricultural enterprises. CSort, a member of the Rosspetsmash Association, produces photo separators designed to separate components of mixed materials, including grains. Previously, operators manually set parameters for color and shape of impurities, but now it takes just the push of a button.
Separation occurs via air jets in a special chamber where AI scans the fast-moving stream of grain. However, AI requires pre-training and constant improvement. This involves using images of high-quality and defective material. The goal is for AI to classify each grain according to a given criterion.
“The collected information helps improve machine performance both technically and in terms of software,” notes Evgeny Galkin, Head of the Development Department at CSort.
Importantly, the software for production is developed by Russian specialists. The company takes research and development seriously—today, one-third of its workforce consists of developers and IT engineers.
Any Mode Available
Altai photo separators are equipped with multiple operating modes and can separate nearly any product—from coffee to nuts—from impurities and contaminants. For example, there is a special mode for separating good buckwheat from spoiled grain, and another for removing stones from buckwheat.
CSort specializes in developing and manufacturing modern equipment for sorting various bulk materials, primarily cleaning harvested agricultural crops from foreign elements, ensuring consumers receive high-quality food products. The new smart photo separator will significantly speed up grain processing and improve the quality of the final product, making it much more affordable for Russians.
The company leads among domestic photo separator manufacturers and actively expands its business across Russian regions. Its production complex is located in Barnaul, with branches in Krasnodar Territory, and Samara, Voronezh, and Novosibirsk regions.
Sold in 32 Countries
CSort has long and successfully exported its products worldwide, proudly representing Russian industry at international exhibitions. The company supplies rice photo separators to India and China. Their advantage is heated trays, which help keep rice loose.
There are also unique contracts—for example, supplying equipment to South Africa’s Limpopo province for sorting the world’s most expensive nut, macadamia.
A key advantage of Russian technology is that each device’s operation can be monitored remotely via a special application developed in-house. This enables quick troubleshooting even from abroad. Moreover, the CSortCloud system allows remote configuration, maintenance, and monitoring of photo separators.
“Our company is the only photo separator manufacturer in the country. Our products are supplied across Russia, from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok, and exported to 32 countries,” said Yuri Zapletnev, Head of CSort’s Supply Department.
Today, CSort supports over 1,500 photo separators, providing necessary parts and components.
Singing and Evolving
The technological development of Altai photo separators knows no bounds. For example, using AI, CSort engineers have taught the machines to “sing” using blown air. The devices can perform various tunes, with the Russian national anthem being the most popular.
The integration of AI into photo separators has been a major technological breakthrough for Russia’s industrial equipment for sorting and cleaning bulk products. This boosts production efficiency in a key sector, strengthens technological sovereignty, and increases export potential. Asian countries, in particular, have shown interest in the equipment due to the importance of agrotechnology development.
Affordable Food Products
Future development of the technology will involve collaboration with Russian educational and scientific centers to improve AI models, enhance analytics, and advance data science. Plans include upgrading the machines with new service platforms, remote monitoring systems, and IoT solutions. CSort itself is working on AI-powered smart warehouses that will make operations easier for many enterprises.
Work is also underway to integrate photo separators with agribusiness management systems controlling large agricultural complexes. CSort photo separators were designed to clean crops from impurities so people can enjoy tasty and healthy food. Their modernization will help reduce production costs and make food even more accessible worldwide.
