Ask the expert

From Customer Needs to Innovation

Anyone who has had the opportunity to speak with Karsten Schmitz quickly realizes the passion he brings to his work. As Managing Director of Sormac GmbH, Germany, he has a remarkable ability to explain even highly complex technical concepts in a clear and accessible way, while always keeping the practical needs of users firmly in focus. In an interview with Fruchthandel Magazin, he discusses the FS-3600 MultiSystem Slice and wedge cutter, and explains why the machine's intelligent tray-filling system and cup belt are among its most significant innovations, and how these features deliver tangible benefits to processors in their day-to-day operations.

Karsten Schmitz
Managing Director

July 6, 2026 min Reading time

Interview

Karsten Schmitz, Managing Director of Sormac GmbH, Germany.
This article was written by Nadine Schotten on behalf of Fruchthandel and was originally published in Fruchthandel – Fresh Convenience, Issue 15/2026.

Mr. Schmitz, if you had to explain the Slice and wedge cutter FS-3600 MultiSystem to a customer in the fresh-cut industry in just a few sentences, what would you say makes the machine unique, and how does it work?

Karsten Schmitz: The machine stands out in several respects. It is extremely versatile, offers high throughput, delivers excellent cutting quality, and is very easy to operate. Another feature our customers particularly appreciate is the fast tool changeover. Switching from one cutting set to another takes just a few minutes. In principle, the operator simply places the product on the machine, which then cuts it into the desired shape.

Which products is the machine best suited for?

The machine was originally developed for tomatoes, and that remains its primary application today. However, our customers now also use it to process peppers, lemons, oranges, eggplants, onions, and zucchini. Today's processors are increasingly looking for versatility rather than a machine designed for just one task. They tell us, "In the morning, I may be processing tomatoes, and in the afternoon I might switch to peppers or lemons." That is exactly why we have developed a comprehensive range of interchangeable cutting sets, allowing the FS-3600 to adapt quickly to different products and applications.

The FS-3600 can process up to 4,000 products per hour. What does that mean in practice?

That figure requires a bit of context. The machine operates at approximately 2,000 cycles per hour. If two products can be loaded simultaneously, throughput can reach up to 4,000 products per hour. However, the actual output always depends on the application. For longer products, such as zucchini, only one product is loaded per cycle. One of the key advantages is that the operator can adjust the machine's speed to suit both the product being processed and the pace of the operating staff.

What exactly happens during the automatic tray-filling process, and how does piece counting work in practice?

The operator first selects the product to be processed and specifies how many pieces should be placed in each tray. Using a combination of sensors and intelligent software, every cut piece that drops into the tray is counted. The system continuously monitors the number of pieces entering each tray and automatically ensures that the correct quantity is filled every time.

What are the benefits of this for processors?

Above all, it ensures a highly reliable process. There may be occasions when an operator places only one product on the machine instead of two. Our software detects these situations and automatically compensates for them. As a result, the correct number of pieces still ends up in each tray. This gives processors greater operational reliability and ensures consistently accurate results.

Which customers benefit most from this feature?

This function is primarily used by vegetable processors and companies producing products such as sandwiches, where sliced tomatoes or cucumbers are incorporated directly into the production process. For these applications, the correct quantity must be consistently available at every stage.

Many readers may not be familiar with the term “cup belt.” What exactly is it?

The cup belt is primarily used when slicing tomatoes. Under normal circumstances, the slices fall onto a conveyor belt after cutting. In the ideal case, they are neatly fanned out in a single row. But how often do you really have ideal conditions? The slices often land unevenly or out of alignment, requiring operators to manually rearrange them before placing them into the packaging. With the cup belt, however, the slices drop directly into specially designed cups. This keeps all the slices from a single tomato together, allowing them to be removed and handled as one complete set.

What are the practical benefits in day-to-day production?

The key benefit is that operators always have all the slices from a single tomato grouped together. They can simply pick up the complete set and place it directly into the packaging. This makes the packing process significantly easier and more efficient, providing real added value in daily operations. Depending on the application, it can also reduce labor requirements or enable higher production line speeds.

How do you come up with innovations like these?

Primarily through our customers. In this particular instance, the idea originated from a customer in the Netherlands who wanted a way to keep cut products together instead of having them scattered across a conveyor belt. We developed a solution for that specific challenge and quickly realized that it would also work exceptionally well for tomatoes. This is how many of our innovations come about. Customers approach us with a specific challenge, and together we develop a solution that often proves valuable for many other processors as well.

What role does the HMI (Human-Machine Interface) play in the FS-3600?

It plays a very important role. We placed great emphasis on making the interface as intuitive and user-friendly as possible. That is why we deliberately rely on clear visual icons rather than lengthy text. Everyone recognizes a tomato, a cutting pattern, and immediately understands the selected operation. We have also integrated animated fault messages into the HMI. If an issue occurs anywhere on the machine, the system immediately highlights the affected area, allowing operators to identify the problem quickly. We consider this an essential feature for efficient day-to-day operation.

The FS-3600 provides real-time production data. How do processors benefit from this?

Thanks to the machine’s integrated sensors, we always know exactly how many products have been processed. Operators can see the progress of a production order at any time, while supervisors and production managers gain real-time insight into the machine’s actual performance. The purpose is not to put pressure on employees. Rather, the data provides valuable transparency into the production process. It's about understanding how processes are running and identifying opportunities for improvement.

Many processors are facing rising costs and labor shortages. What role does automation play in strategic business decisions today?

Automation is becoming increasingly important. The goal is to achieve higher output with the same workforce, simplify production processes, and ultimately improve competitiveness. Features such as automatic tray filling and the cup belt contribute directly to these objectives. They reduce the manual workload for operators while increasing overall productivity. The industry trend is clearly moving toward smarter, more highly automated production processes.

You have been working closely with food processors for many years. Which feedback do you personally value the most?

The greatest compliment for me is when a customer comes back to purchase their next machine from us. I’ve been in this business for 26 years, and some of the customers I sold machines to back then are still buying from us today.

To me, that is a clear sign that we are doing many things right—not only from a technical standpoint, but also in the way we work with our customers. We listen carefully to their needs, continuously improve, and always strive to find the best solutions together.

Ultimately, what matters is not what a machine promises, but how it performs in day-to-day production. Two processors share their experience with the FS-3600.

Früchte Boquoi

Since the beginning of the year, Früchte Boquoi has been using the Sormac FS-3600 to slice tomatoes. The machine is equipped with the cup belt, a solution specifically developed for this application, which deposits all slices from a single tomato into individual cups. "We primarily slice tomatoes. Sormac offered us a specially developed cup belt for this application. The slices drop directly into the cups, making them quick and easy to pack. This cup belt is the real game changer for us, because without it the slices would be scattered across a conveyor belt and would be much more difficult to handle," explains owner Hamza Kerenciler. In addition to the innovative cup belt, the company highlights the FS-3600's high throughput and outstanding cutting quality as key advantages.

Adam Theis GmbH

Adam Theis GmbH has been operating a Sormac FS-3600 since 2022. The Slice and wedge cutter is used daily for a wide variety of cutting applications. According to the company, one of the machine's greatest strengths is its reliability. Despite continuous daily operation, the FS-3600 has been running for four years without any significant issues. "In addition to its excellent cutting quality and high processing speed, what impresses us most is the machine's reliability. The FS-3600 has been operating flawlessly for years and performs its job day after day. That's exactly what we expect from a production machine," says Thomas Ehlert, Production Manager at Adam Theis GmbH.