The Global Sorting Equipment Market size was USD 4.12 Billion in 2024 and is anticipated to succeed in the valuation of USD 5.38 Billion in 2029 and is predicted to register a CAGR of 5.5% from 2024 to 2029.
Sorting equipment is the industrial machinery used for separating goods arranging them in a systematic way and grouping them together. These systems are designed to simplify classification applications by separating them in an automated manner according to structural properties, color, weight, size, chemical composition, shape, and other parameters. This is why sorting systems are so popular in industries such as food and beverage, chemicals, plastics, and packaging.
The growing pharmaceutical industry around the world is benefiting the market as capsules and tablets are used to classify capsules and tablets by weight, size, and shape to maintain the quality and accuracy of production. During the COVID-19 pandemic, various end-use industries such as mining, tobacco processing, and plastics were shut down, impacting product demand. However, the food and pharmaceutical industries were still operating during the blockade, and during the pandemic, product demand from these industries increased to reduce labour needs and speed up production processes.
Automation allows enterprises to improve performance by reducing the number of errors and improving efficiency. Various industries such as food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals are shifting their focus to automation to improve productivity while maintaining product quality. This approach speeds up the manufacturing process, reduces manual labour, and improves product safety.
In addition, rising labor costs and increased enforcement of strict rules and regulations by governments of all countries on food safety and security are expected to provide tremendous growth opportunities for the sorter market.
One of the main factors limiting the demand for sorting equipment is the enormous cost of these machines. In addition, the additional cost of the number of additional parts, high installation, and maintenance costs, and the reduced acceptance of these devices by SMEs further limit the sale of sorting equipment in the global market.
REPORT METRIC |
DETAILS |
Market Size Available |
2023 to 2029 |
Base Year |
2023 |
Forecast Period |
2024 to 2029 |
CAGR |
5.5% |
Segments Covered |
By Product Type, End Use and Region |
Various Analyses Covered |
Global, Regional & Country Level Analysis, Segment-Level Analysis, DROC, PESTLE Analysis, Porter’s Five Forces Analysis, Competitive Landscape, Analyst Overview on Investment Opportunities |
Regions Covered |
North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, Middle East & Africa |
Market Leaders Profiled |
TOMRA, Barco Vision, Daewon GSE, BT-Wolfgang Binder, Bühler Sortex, Sesotec, Raytec Vision, Concept Engineers, Key Technology and Others. |
The optical sorter product segment led the market in 2022 with a revenue share of over 56%. Optical sorters are widely used in the food processing industry around the world, with the increasing penetration of processing of harvested foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and potatoes, with 100% in-line non-destructive inspection at full production. It is also used in a variety of industries including dietary supplements, tobacco processing, waste recycling, and pharmaceuticals. In the waste recycling industry, it is applied to identify and dispose of manufacturing waste such as paperboard, metal, drywall, and various plastics.
The weight/gravity sorter segment is estimated to exhibit the fastest CAGR from 2021 to 2028. Widely used in the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare R&D, and manufacturing sectors. These sorters are used to accurately weigh individual tablets and capsules and quickly inspect a large number of products, saving manufacturing time. Other segments include tilt trays, push trays, and case sorters. The tilt tray sorter allows you to unload and steer objects in two dimensions on either side of the sorter. As the products are placed within the bin and the demand increases over the forecast period, it provides a secure transfer method for automatic sorting.
The food and beverage industry led the market in 2020 with a revenue share of over 41%. Food producers, processors and packers use these machines to classify a variety of fresh and processed foods, minimizing waste and maximizing production. The coffee industry has a significant increase in product demand due to its ability to identify and eliminate undeveloped coffee beans. In the plastic industry, products reject different types of plastic by distinguishing between different types of resin. The resin sorter can identify different types of resin such as PVC, PE, HDPE, and PLA. Wasted materials are also stored in bottles, which is useful for recycling. These factors actively drive market growth.
The pharmaceutical industry is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. This is because these machines for weighing tablets and capsules help with quality control. Used by various pharmaceutical companies to improve both product quality and productivity. These machines are used in the mining industry to sort out industrial minerals and precious metals. It is also used in a variety of other industries such as tobacco processing, dietary supplements, agriculture, and logistics. In agriculture, it is used to classify different grains by size and color.
Europe led the global market in 2022 with the largest revenue share of over 33%. Health awareness and health are important to consumers in the region, which leads to increased demand for processed nutritious foods and value-added products. The growing food and dietary supplement industry is beneficial to market growth as sorters are widely used in these industries to reduce process and delivery times. Germany is expected to show favorable growth in the regional market during the forecast period due to the presence of major manufacturers such as Allgaier Werke, Sesotec, and STEINERT. In Germany, the growing demand for high-quality foods with shorter delivery cycles should drive market growth.
The Asia Pacific region is said to be the fastest-growing regional market during the forecast period as the industry focuses on automation to improve productivity and quality. Therefore, rapid automation in the end-use areas of the market is expected to generate high product demand. Governments in various countries in North America are focusing on recycling waste from several industries in order to minimize pollution and keep the environment safe. Sorters are often used to identify and dispose of production waste that is useful for recycling. This, in turn, is expected to boost North American market growth over the forecast period.
Major Key Players in the Global Sorting Equipment Market are TOMRA, Barco Vision, Daewon GSE, BT-Wolfgang Binder, Bühler Sortex, Sesotec, Raytec Vision, Concept Engineers, Key Technology, and others.
By Product Type
By End Use
By Region
Frequently Asked Questions
The food processing, recycling, mining, and logistics industries are the major drivers of demand for sorting equipment globally. Food processing requires accurate sorting for quality control, while recycling and mining benefit from efficient material separation. Additionally, e-commerce and logistics rely on sorting technology to handle high-volume operations.
Key technological advancements include machine vision systems, artificial intelligence (AI), X-ray, near-infrared (NIR), and sensor-based sorting technologies. These innovations enable faster, more accurate, and automated sorting processes across industries, helping to improve product quality and operational efficiency.
Some of the main challenges include high initial costs, maintenance expenses, and the complexity of integrating advanced technologies into existing systems. Smaller companies, in particular, may face difficulties in justifying the high upfront investment in automated sorting equipment.
Key trends include the adoption of AI and machine learning, the integration of IoT in sorting systems, increased focus on sustainability, and the development of compact and portable sorting solutions. These trends will shape the market's growth by improving efficiency and making sorting technology more accessible to a wider range of industries globally.
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