FOOD & BEVERAGE  SWINDON SILICON SYSTEMS Sensing danger in food manufacturing


Ross Turnbull, director of business development and product engineering at ASIC design and supply specialist, Swindon Silicon Systems, explores the advantages of opting for a custom integrated circuit (IC) solution for food and beverage processing sensors.


A


ccording to data from product risk consultancy RQA, the UK’s food product 


over six years. Sensors are crucial in improving safety and regulatory compliance, but not all sensors offer equal levels of performance. Product recalls are a hugely costly occurrence


for food and beverage manufacturers. Not only   of faulty products, but they can also cause huge reputational damage and prolonged periods of 


Sensor technology has an important role to


play in preventing these issues during processing and packaging, by helping to precisely monitor parameters such as temperature and pressure. Given the highly regulated nature of the industry, implementing sensors also ensures that food and  standards.


IC-based pressure sensors can be precisely


ICS IN ACTION Introducing IC-based sensors into the production   uncertainty.





temperature monitoring, as many foodborne  


 RQA’s data and often affects dairy products such as    make accurate measurement vital. IC-based temperature transducers produce outputs as a current or voltage value proportional to absolute temperature, facilitating calibration and improving accuracy. Additionally, semiconductor- based sensors respond quickly to temperature  applications such as pasteurisation. Chip-based sensing technologies are also  pasteurisation, such as high-pressure processing (HPP). As a cold processing method best suited to ensuring the safety and extending the shelf life of meat and juice products, HPP utilises sustained, high  (psi) to neutralise pathogens.


calibrated to measure and monitor these high pressures, ensuring the process is carried out consistently and assuring the effectiveness of sterilisation. As one of the main challenges of HPP is achieving uniform pressure across the entire batch of food, the quick response time of IC pressure sensors help to detect changes almost instantaneously. Manufacturers can then act on  pressure. This level of precision is crucial in reducing spoilage, product recalls and customer dissatisfaction due to compromised packaging. Even after the food and beverage products have been processed, sensors still have an important role to play. For example, gas sensors are vital for   atmospheric gases to preserve minimally processed  based gas sensors ensure the correct gas  spoilage and extending the product’s freshness.


CHOOSING CUSTOM  integrated circuits (ASICs) can be tailored for the exact demands of individual applications. Consequently, opting for an ASIC is preferable for  system integration and cost effectiveness over time.


28 December/January 2025 Irish Manufacturing


The fully optimised chip design of an ASIC means that any unnecessary components can be  precisely on the features that matter most for the application. Beyond the performance gains, this streamlined design also reduces the bill of materials,  Within food and beverage processing  For example, ASIC-based gas sensors customised for the unique requirements of MAP can monitor   Custom IC temperature sensors can be tailored to  detecting even slight temperature variations. This   the necessary precision or range. 


 enhances quality control – making ASICs an ideal choice for food and beverage manufacturers looking to maintain high production standards and comply  Sensors are essential for keeping food and


beverage production quality high and product   and regulatory compliance achieve maximum performance and effectiveness.


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