Optical Sorter Market Report 2026

The optical sorter market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $3.45 billion in 2025 to $3.89 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to manual sorting inefficiencies, growth in recycling initiatives, demand for quality food processing, labor cost pressures, industrial automation adoption.

The optical sorter market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $6.23 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to circular economy initiatives, stricter waste sorting regulations, AI vision advancements, expansion of smart recycling plants, demand for contamination free products. Major trends in the forecast period include rising automation in material sorting, growing adoption in recycling operations, expansion of optical sorting in food processing, integration of ai based vision systems, increasing demand for high throughput sorting.

The rising demand for automation is expected to boost the growth of the optical sorter market in the coming years. Automation involves using technology, systems, or machines to carry out tasks with little to no human involvement, with the goal of enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and productivity. This growing demand is driven by automation’s ability to lower operational costs through better efficiency, fewer errors, and optimized use of resources. Optical sorters contribute to automation by offering fast, precise, and consistent sorting processes that reduce the need for manual labor and improve overall operational performance. For example, the International Federation of Robotics, based in Germany, reported 44,303 industrial robot installations in 2023, marking a 12% increase from the previous year. Hence, the demand for automation is propelling the expansion of the optical sorter market.

Major companies operating in the optical sorter market are increasingly focusing on advanced solutions such as multi-commodity processing, enabling processors to handle diverse product types on a single platform. Multi-commodity processing benefits optical sorters by broadening the addressable customer base, as one machine can sort multiple products, including grains, pulses, nuts, and spices. It also improves return on investment by maximizing equipment utilization, reducing the need for multiple dedicated machines, and lowering overall capital and operational expenses. For instance, in November 2023, Bühler AG, a Switzerland-based food-technology company, introduced the SPARK Pro optical sorter. The system features an intuitive interface suitable for smaller processors, a non-stop sorting algorithm that prevents production interruptions, and a zero-spillage design to minimize product waste. It is available in multiple chute configurations to meet varying capacity requirements and supports a wide array of commodities such as grains, rice, coffee, pulses, nuts, and spices.

In November 2023, IK Investment Partners, a private equity firm based in the UK, acquired Sesotec GmbH for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition aims to bolster Sesotec’s growth, broaden its market reach, and accelerate innovation in advanced sorting and detection technologies. Sesotec GmbH, headquartered in Germany, specializes in the design and manufacture of optical sorters.

Major companies operating in the optical sorter market are Allgaier Werke GmbH, Anzai Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Binder+Co AG, Bühler Group, CP Manufacturing Inc., Daewon GSI Co. Ltd., General Inspection LLC, GREEFA (Greenhouse Equipment Factory), Hefei Meyer Optoelectronic Technology Inc., Cimbria A/S, Hefei Taihe Optoelectronic Technology Co. Ltd., National Recovery Technologies LLC, Orange Sorting Machines (India) Pvt. Ltd., Pellenc Selective Technologies, PETKUS Technologie GmbH, Raytec Vision S.p.A., REDWAVE Solutions US LLC., Satake Corporation, STEINERT GmbH, TOMRA Systems ASA.

North America was the largest region in the optical sorter market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the optical sorter market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the optical sorter market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The optical sorter market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing installation and commissioning, maintenance and repair, operator training, calibration and optimization, and remote monitoring and diagnostics. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The optical sorter market also includes sales of color sorter machines, X-ray sorting machines, shape and size sorters, flake sorters, and vision inspection camera modules. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values; that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.