Industry Insight
repeated stoppages and trouble-shooting will incur unnecessary costs. Market estimates put the cost per line of false rejects at over £11,000, depending on the scale of the problem. These statistics serve to highlight the impact checkweighing technology and communication software can have on efficiency and, when used in the right way, can lead to significant bottom-line savings.
INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY FOR FULL TRACEABILITY
Besides reducing false rejects and product waste, the use of modern network technologies allow for automatic data transmission. With integrated data collection software, everything from trends, pack rates and live OEE data is instantly reported. Production and QA personnel can then utilise the information to monitor and fine- tune production line performance, even prior to the weight check process. As an example, if a meat manufacturer finds inconsistencies in the size of meatballs, this indicates that the processing machinery is not running accurately. Beyond highlighting this fault, precision systems, such as Sparc’s Sentinel checkweigher, provide a controlled feedback signal to upstream automation equipment used to portion food products. This signal specifies when to increase or decrease the fill quantity accordingly, eliminating the need for human intervention.
These benefits are made all the more prevalent when integrated with existing or combined inspection technologies such as metal detection and x-ray. The inspection machines market is projected to rise at a CAGR of 5.5% between now and 2024, with combination systems estimated to grow the most during the forecast period. A number of factors are attributed to outlook reports, from demand for inline product inspection to growing need to comply with GMP
requirements and smaller factory footprints. Combination systems bring food factories one step closer to the vision of a smart factory, whereby connected devices work alongside each other to reduce contamination, ensure food safety compliance and boost traceability and efficiency. With this vision in mind, Sparc recently assisted in the collaboration with Fortress Technology to unveil the Raptor Combi - a flexible, fast and affordable fully integrated checkweigher and metal detector. The Raptor’s universal design gives manufacturers the option to purchase a standalone Sparc checkweigher, and attach a complimentary Fortress Stealth metal detector at a later date to meet different phases of a production and inspection investment strategy.
Featuring a single swipe touchscreen HMI and paperless audit software with unlimited pre-programmed retailer Codes of Practice, the system captures all the data required to guarantee absolute traceability.
Given that most food manufacturers supply multiple retailers, automating the test principles increases speed and accuracy, leading to cost savings down the line.
THE FACTORY OF THE FUTURE Flexibility is also important to consider when specifying checkweighing technology - and is one where smart, automated features can help. As well as retailer COP parameters, an HMI touchscreen panel used to calibrate numerous inspection machines within the same food factory addresses the increased need for visual packaging control due to smaller batch sizes and the avoidance of mistakes during product switchovers. Integrated technology that provides access to machine functions with the click of a button reduces the changeover time of different products, pack sizes and formats while ensuring consistent compliance with international weight and measurement standards. In some cases, up to 50% less time is required for set-up as all features are accessible from one screen.
Although widely embraced by consumers, deployment of digital technologies in industrial settings, particularly multi-site food factories, has been slower to materialise. Yet things are shifting as manufacturers are waking up to the benefits of smart technology. In the case of checkweighing inspection systems, incorporating greater interoperability, enhanced information transparency and decentralised decisions paves the path to the factory of the future.
u
sparc-systems.com
convertermag.com
March 2020
33
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
