Innovation tailored to rice processing realities
London (United Kingdom), August 01, 2025 – In a climate of rising costs and tight margins, Bühler has launched the SORTEX R500, a new optical sorter designed to run almost autonomously, improving profitability for rice processors. With advanced automation and precision sorting, the SORTEX R500 empowers teams with intuitive technology, supporting streamlined operations and reduced material waste, while addressing some of the industry’s most pressing challenges.
Today's rice processors face significant pressure from the increasing costs of raw materials, labor, and facility operations. The SORTEX R500 tackles these issues head-on with an autonomous sorting system that requires minimal intervention, helping boost yield while reducing complexity in day-to-day operation. Recognizing the global importance of rice as a staple food, Bühler designed SORTEX R500 from the ground up specifically for rice, allowing greater emphasis on the challenges, defects, and pain-points within the rice industry.
"We designed the SORTEX R500 to be a true rice specialist, built to handle the unique complexities of the industry," says Neil Dyer, Product Manager of the new SORTEX R500 at Bühler. "It's a machine that practically runs itself, which means processors can get more high-quality output with greater efficiency, minimal manual input, and reduced waste. It's about turning operational precision into profit."
The SORTEX R500: A new standard for rice sorting
The SORTEX R500 features state-of-the-art optical sorting technology with high-definition cameras and intelligent algorithms specifically developed for rice. This combination allows it to identify and remove even the smallest defects and impurities, including discolored grains, foreign materials, and chalky rice. The result is a more consistent, higher-quality final product that meets the stringent standards of the market.
With over 75 years of rice sorting experience, “sortexed rice” has become the market name and expectation for quality rice that consumers can trust. R500 represents the next step in the evolution of rice sorting. Whether processing short, medium or long grain, white, parboiled or steamed rice, or even specialty varieties such as basmati or jasmine, the SORTEX R500 is engineered to deliver exceptional precision and efficiency, combatting the pressures of raw material quality, availability, and fluctuating costs, while improving overall operational performance.
For more information about the SORTEX R500 and how processors can increase their rice yield and profit, visit this page.
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