ASKER, NORWAY - TOMRA is posting impressive growth numbers this year, and according to TOMRA Sorting Executive Vice President and Head of Sorting Dr. Volker Rehrmann, order intake in the first half has exceeded numbers from the first half of 2014.

Ashley Hunter, Senior Vice-President and Head of TOMRA Sorting Food, spoke proudly of what the company had accomplished in the wake of its acquisition of the operations of ODENBERG and BEST.

“Overall, I’m pleased, considering the many activities we have merged since the acquisitions of ODENBERG and BEST,” he said. “End-retailers are also demanding much higher and more consistent quality levels but, of course, our customers’ options to increase prices are limited. Therefore the cutting of our customers’ costs is a big driver of our business...the sensor based systems we provide allow this.”

“Another factor influencing the need for our products is the supply of labor - it’s not just the cost anymore with availability becoming an increasing problem,” he further explained. “Urbanization is reducing the number of people left to do manual sorting and control in areas where food is grown and processed.”

According to a press release, TOMRA now supplies equipment sorting over 150 applications and sold in over 80 countries. Its new products from the first half, which include the Blizzard, the new Biometric Signature Identification technology, and the Eco steam peeler, have all been greeted warmly by its clients.

Ashley revealed that TOMRA's increasing investment during the first half in nations such as the USA, Ireland, India, China and Belgium was a sign of its global focus.

“I believe this global breadth and being part of a large, strong, financially stable group allows us to cope with the ups and downs of individual territories and applications in a more balanced way,” he explained. “Our size and scope also helps us to service our many customers who are multi-national, whose number will increase as China and other emerging markets develop.”

TOMRA will be dispatching former Market Unit Manager for Tobacco, Steven Van Geel as the new Sales Director for China. Fellow TOMRA executive Sean Slevin has been entrusted with the position of Sales Director for the rest of Asia.

“We’d previously treated China as part of the wider Asian continent but it requires a more focused approach. We’re very optimistic that having Steven based there will help grow the Chinese market faster for us.”

Congratulations to a very impressive first half, TOMRA! I'll certainly be looking forward to hearing about what this exciting company accomplishes in the remainder of the year.

TOMRA