When people think about commissioning a new colour sorter, they often picture the big moment — flipping the switch and watching it come to life. But honestly? Turning the machine on is the easy part. The real work — the stuff that ensures long-term success — happens before and after that moment.
Every commissioning job is different, but preparation is always the key to success. That’s why, at Nexeed, we’ve developed a detailed pre-commissioning checklist that we send to customers before we arrive. It helps them get set up right and saves time once we’re on-site.
Our checklist includes:
- Power and voltage requirements
- Air supply and aspiration setup
- Stable internet connection for remote support
- Physical positioning of the sorter and support equipment
Once I’m on-site, commissioning breaks down into two main steps:
- Mechanical setup — I check the power, verify all voltages, tighten every bolt, and ensure vibrators and trays are set correctly.
- Calibration — I align the cameras using precision tools, train the machine to recognize product properly, and make sure everything is in sync.
I’ve never left a customer site without a sorter running — and running right. We come prepared with backup parts like boards and cameras, just in case anything was jostled during shipping. These machines travel a long way, and even the best-built tech can shift during transit.
But commissioning doesn’t stop once the machine is running. In fact, the most important part often comes after.
That’s why we always include two site visits:
- First visit: Full install, testing, and basic training
- Second visit: Usually a few weeks later, to answer the real-world questions that only come up after using the machine for a while
We also offer remote support in between. I once helped a customer remotely on New Year’s Eve — my wife drove us to a party while I logged into their machine and got them sorted in 15 minutes.
And being a farmer myself, I bring more than just technical know-how. I understand grain, seed, and what it means when margins are tight. I see things from both sides of the equation — and that helps me deliver better results.
