PC-SEP24-PG21.1_Layout 1 23/09/2024 10:05 Page 21
INDUSTRY 4.0/IIOT
A PERFECT BLEND OF TECHNOLOGY AND TRADITION
The roll out of IoT technology at Appleby Creamery showcases its potential benefits to the dairy supply chain. CENSIS explains more...
ppleby Creamery, an award-winning, small-batch cheese producer based in the Lake District, is aiming to support its traditional manufacturing processes and make its products even more sustainable through the use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology. In collaboration with CENSIS – the innovation delivery organisation for digitalisation and enabling technologies – the system has been designed and deployed to monitor energy use and temperatures across the creamery’s Eden Valley site.
A
The initiative – delivered via CENSIS’s Milk Round technology accelerator – is part of the Digital Dairy Chain, a multi-partner project led by Scotland’s Rural College, which aims to transform the dairy processing supply chain in south and west Scotland, and Cumbria. The project is funded by UK Research and Innovation’s flagship Strength in Places Fund. Producing cheese requires consistent
temperatures and humidity levels at different stages of the process to maintain product quality and safety. Prior to the installation of the IoT system, conditions in fridges and ripening rooms were checked and recorded manually during working hours. The new system allows the Appleby Creamery team to monitor conditions remotely every 15 minutes, 24 hours per day, and sends real-time alerts if anomalies occur, allowing for a prompt response to prevent the risk of product spoilage.
The system also tracks the energy use of equipment throughout the cheese-making process – from fridges to pasteurisers – with the data displayed on a dashboard developed by CENSIS. This helps the team to make decisions that could save energy and make better use of its on-site renewable sources. Rolled out over two phases, the project will soon include the installation of sensors to track
Maurice Walton, owner, and
Tom Jackson, operations manager Photo credit: WittWoo Photography
fuel gas usage and hot and cold water consumption. The data collected will not only enhance cost savings and sustainability, but also automate compliance reporting for metrics such as the creamery’s temperature and humidity. Additionally, it will provide insights for scaling operations and attracting new investment. The sensing system is low-cost, easy to maintain, and can be relocated to monitor different areas of the site. Founded in 2007 by three former colleagues from Express Dairies, Appleby Creamery has grown to a team of 12, with plans for further expansion into Scotland and the south of England.
Maurice Walton, owner of Appleby Creamery, said: “At first, we weren’t sure if integrating IoT was the right move – we weren’t sure the site was big enough to benefit from this type of technology or what kind of data we would need. But it’s really been a turning point for us. The system has exceeded our expectations in managing and fine-tuning our cheese-making processes, with the whole team involved in seeing how it can drive operational change for our business.
“We’re already seeing great improvements in quality and efficiency, and I’m excited to explore the additional data we can gather from other processes and equipment. Working with CENSIS has been a huge boost, and we’re looking forward to seeing how else the technology can help us keep making the cheeses our customers love.” Rachael Wakefield, business development manager at CENSIS, said: “This project really showcases how traditional industries like artisan cheese-making can benefit from IoT and other enabling technologies. By retrofitting this system to existing equipment, we’re helping to turn data into actionable insights that enhance decision-making and help the team to explore data driven operational change at their own pace. “Our aim is to inspire the broader dairy supply chain to embrace digital transformation, especially those at a similar stage as Appleby Creamery or considering lower-cost service options...”
Stuart Martin, programme director for the Digital Dairy Chain, added: “Projects such as this one with Appleby perfectly encapsulates what we are aiming to achieve by bringing cross-industry innovation and technology into the dairy sector to ensure sustainable production and processes. Having CENSIS as a partner has meant that businesses across the region could benefit from this type of technology retrofitting long into the future.”
CENSIS
censis.tech
SEPTEMBER 2024 | PROCESS & CONTROL 21
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
