SOLIDS PROCESSING A BRIGHT ‘SPARC’ FOR LOSS-IN-WEIGHT
For ease of operative use, the Hera system can program and store up to 500 different product codes. The graphical interface makes it simple to select the correct food application and code to reduce set up time. Additionally, the self diagnostics feature helps food manufacturers to maintain the highest performance levels
Sparc Systems introduces Hera, a loss-in-weight depositor that prevents dry product wastage and improves consistency
an innovative loss-in-weight depositor. Designed to help meat, fish, bakery, fresh produce, dairy and confectionery manufacturers save money by eliminating waste, Hera presents consumers with consistent looking products. Providing layers of taste and texture to a
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variety of products, Hera scatters and weighs dry inclusions with accuracy and precision. From spicing up oven-ready chickens, adding toppings to ready-meals, nuts and seeds on wafer bars, decorative sprinkles on cake tray bakes to inserting confectionery into ice- cream, Hera is already helping numerous companies to automate the process and cut inclusion waste by over 50 percent. In some instances saving hundreds of kilograms of added ingredients per week. Rather than sieving or scattering dry free-
flowing products onto applications manually or using waterfall style dispensers, both of which result in inconsistent distribution of inclusions, Hera deploys a simple yet advanced technology. Comprising a loss-in- weight control system and feeder featuring a vibrator sitting on top of load cells, Hera is typically integrated onto processing lines prior to packaging and contaminant inspection. Two Hera machines can also be integrated with a single control weight station and used as a salt and cure depositor for bacon. Guaranteed to deliver an accurate spread,
as each conveyorised product passes in front of the Hera sensor, the depositor feeder tray vibrates gently scattering the dry ingredients, such as high value spices, along the entire
ith the global food inclusions market set to be worth USD 14.73 billion by 20261
, Sparc Systems has launched
width of the product. To prevent waste and address the issue of powder accumulating in and around the machinery and conveyor system, instead of a continuous stream, the dispensing slows and stops until a new product tray passes in front of the Hera sensor. European sales manager, Charlie Graham
explained: “Many inclusions, for example spices, candied fruits and nuts, vitamins and nutritional fibres like chia seeds, are high value ingredients. When added to product applications the concentration needs to be carefully controlled to minimise waste. During the development of Hera we observed that when done manually, the majority of inclusion product ended up on the floor or conveyor. Naturally, this wasted product cannot be reworked due to cross contamination and hygiene practices. Additionally, when large quantities of fine powders accumulate in and around sensitive machinery, this affects the performance of automation and inspection equipment. “In terms of efficiency and control,
automating this task leads to considerable savings on what’s effectively a highly repetitive and labour intensive task. To maintain a consistent 1g dispensing rate is impossible to achieve by hand,” added Graham.
https://www.absolut
ereports.com/global- food-inclusions-mark et-16278912
1 In Avara Food’s case, Graham calculated
that for each chicken the manual process used 11g in herbs. Yet only around 5g ended up on the chicken, the rest had to be discarded. Introducing Hera onto the company’s
poultry line reduced the weight of herbs scattered on each chicken to 0.9g. Given that they perfectly season 250,000 poultry birds a week, Avara reports that they are saving on average over 250kg of herbs weekly. As the weight in the ingredient hopper
decreases, Sparc’s checkweighing technology and control system calculates the weight dispensed to the exact milligram. Digital data of the volumetric deposits is captured and stored by the management control system. For traceability, this statistical data - attributed to a precise date, time, product and inclusion - can be networked or saved to a memory stick. For extra cleanliness and tougher hygiene
control, the Hera is supplied with Sparc’s high care conveyor and ‘no-tool’ maintenance concept. Overcoming the industry challenge of loosening belt tension during machine sanitation, in just seconds operators can unclip and disconnect conveyor motor and lift out the entire conveyor assembly for maintenance and cleaning. Belt tension and alignment are instantly restored when clipped back into place. Although the process is highly controlled,
Hera can sprinkle inclusions or flavourings in up to 50 food packs or trays per minute. Yet, for many Sparc customers, quality trumps speed, with presentation being the critical differentiator. A consistent spread of inclusions conveys quality.
Sparc Systems
www.sparc-systems.com
FEBRUARY 2021 | PROCESS & CONTROL 41
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