Test & measurement
PRECISION FOR MILLIONS OF CRACKERS
A
t its production site in Capriata d’Orba, in the Piedmont region of Italy, Mondelēz Italia Biscuits Production operates one of its most important European facilities for snack production. Iconic brands such as Ritz and Cipster are manufactured here for a range of international markets. The Ritz brand alone accounts for approximately 20 per cent of the plant’s total output, making it one of the site’s key products. In order to support these volumes and further improve packing line efficiency, the company decided to invest in the upgrade of its weighing technology which resulted in the installation of two Ishida CCW-RVE 14-head multihead weighers.
THE CHALLENGE
The previous weighers had been in operation for many years and were beginning to show signs of weight inconsistencies and reliability issues. Before the upgrade, the standard deviation of the weighing process was close to two grams, a value that generated unwanted product giveaway. For high volume productions, such as Ritz, even small weight variations can have a significant impact on raw material costs. In addition, during the warmer periods of the year, some electronic components of the old
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equipment proved to be less reliable, causing occasional stoppages or operational anomalies. Within a multinational company such as Mondelēz, suppliers are being asked to meet very high standards. Every new system must comply with strict guaranteed performance parameters, defined before installation and subsequently verified using real production data.
THE SOLUTION
To improve line accuracy and reliability, Mondelēz decided to install two Ishida CCW-RVE multihead weighers, each equipped with 14 weighing heads and a hopper volume of 1.5 litres. The multiheads were configured in
collaboration with Ishida’s local distributor Itech to perfectly align with the product characteristics and the requirements of the packaging line. One of the main interventions was the downsizing of the weigh hopper volume compared with the previous machines. This decision made it possible to enhance the accuracy and consistency of the weighing process. The weighers operate in combination with a vertical bagmaker and achieve a standard speed of approximately 65 packs per minute, with the possibility of running at higher speeds depending on pack format and production conditions. Another significant advantage is the high level
At Mondelēz
International’s Capriata d’Orba plant, two Ishida multihead weighers improve weighing
accuracy, reduce giveaway and increase efficiency.
of automation: During operation no operator needs to be deployed to look after the weighers. Line personnel supervise the entire process and intervene only for periodic checks, such as metal detector verification or scheduled cleaning.
THE ADDED VALUE OF ITECH AND ISHIDA One of the key factors behind the choice of the new Ishida multihead weighers was their outstanding reliability.
“The decision was influenced by the positive experience we have had with other Ishida machines installed in the plant,” explains Samuele Mazzei, maintenance manager for the Ritz and Cipster lines at the Capriata d’Orba site. “Over time, we found that both the new weighers’ designs and their components were much more reliable than our previous weighing solutions.” The collaboration with ITECH also played an important role in the success of the project: From the technical definition stage through to installation and operator training, the support proved to be consistent and professional. “The collaboration with ITECH has always been very smooth,” adds Mazzei. “We received support both from a technical and commercial point of view, with a constant presence and great availability whenever needed.”
August 2026 Instrumentation Monthly
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