Grading & Sorting Systems — cost, specification & RFQ guide
Live grading, weight and vision sorting, batching and count-size accuracy.
Request matched quotesShort answer
How much does a grading & sorting systems cost?
- Weight grader accuracy:
- ±2–5 g typical on portion sizes
- Vision grader accuracy:
- 95–99% correct grade classification
- Give-away reduction:
- 1–3% of packed weight versus manual batching
- Payback:
- Often 9–24 months on export-priced product
Throughput and indicative CAPEX bands
Indicative equipment supply only (EXW/FOB). Building, civil works, duties and local installation are additional.
| Scale | Throughput | Indicative CAPEX | Typical scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual / basic | up to 1 t/h | USD 3k–15k | Grading tables, bar graders, manual scales. |
| Mechanical | 1–5 t/h | USD 15k–60k | Roller or bar graders for shrimp and small fish. |
| Weight grading | 2–8 t/h | USD 90k–250k | Multi-lane weight sorters with batching to fixed pack weight. |
| Vision grading | 3–12 t/h | USD 200k–450k | Camera grading by length, weight, defect and colour. |
What a complete scope must cover
Infeed & dewatering
Even single-file presentation — most grading errors start with poor infeed.
Grading unit
Roller, bar, weight or vision system matched to species, size range and moisture.
Batching & give-away control
Fixed-weight batching software; 1–2% give-away reduction pays back fast at export prices.
Data capture
Grade distribution logging feeding harvest planning and price negotiation.
Machine, line, turnkey plant or EPC scope?
Compare offers at the same responsibility level. A low machine price is not comparable with a line that includes controls, utilities, installation and performance acceptance.
| Scope | Typically includes | Buyer retains | Use when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single machine | One defined operation and controls | Interfaces, utilities, installation and line balance | The factory and upstream/downstream process already exist |
| Complete line | Connected process equipment, controls and throughput duty | Building, major utilities, cold store and permits unless stated | One product flow needs a measurable output guarantee |
| Turnkey plant | Line, utilities, installation, commissioning and training as contracted | Land, approvals, raw material and items expressly excluded | The buyer wants fewer package interfaces |
| EPC scope | Engineering, procurement and construction coordination under an agreed contract | Owner decisions, financing, permits and operational inputs | Civil works and multiple technical packages must be integrated |
Selection criteria
- •Accuracy stated for your species, size band and product temperature
- •Throughput at your real moisture and presentation, not at catalogue conditions
- •Hygienic wash-down rating and belt changeover time
- •Data output that can be exported to your ERP or harvest plan
Costly mistakes
- •Buying capacity beyond the infeed the upstream line can present
- •Comparing accuracy figures measured under different conditions
- •Ignoring the value of grade data for price negotiation and harvest timing
Put this in your RFQ
- •State species, live/chilled state, size range and required grade bands
- •Require accuracy and throughput as acceptance criteria on your own product
- •Ask for give-away performance data with batching enabled
Size it before you tender
Grading & Sorting Systems FAQ
Request grading & sorting systems quotes
Send the species, product format, peak throughput, labour plan, automation target, hygiene standard, utilities, installation boundary and cold-chain interface. FishMatch reviews the brief and seeks matched responses; timing depends on scope and supplier interest, and identities stay confidential until you approve contact.
Other processing buyer guides
Before you request quotes
Equipment scope
What equipment does a commercial aquaculture project actually need?
A grow-out project typically needs holding infrastructure (tanks, ponds or cages), water movement (pumps, piping, valves), aeration or oxygenation, water treatment appropriate to the system, feeding equipment, grading and handling gear, monitoring and alarms, and backup power. RAS adds mechanical filtration, biofiltration, degassing, disinfection and tighter process control. Hatchery and processing scopes are specified separately.
Which equipment should be specified before requesting quotes?
Specify the items whose sizing changes everything downstream: design biomass and stocking density, water exchange or recirculation rate, oxygen demand at peak temperature, and installed pumping head. With those four fixed, suppliers can quote aeration, filtration, pumps and power on the same basis. FishMatch calculators produce these figures and attach them to the RFQ.
Can equipment be sourced in stages?
Yes, and phased procurement is common. The usual sequence is water supply and holding infrastructure, then aeration and treatment, then automation and monitoring, then processing and cold chain. Staging works when interfaces and capacity headroom are defined at the start; otherwise later phases force replacement rather than addition.