FOOD & BEvERAGE


A TITAN IN THE FOOD INSPECTION WORLD


D


A change of 5°C is enough to affect product characteristics and disrupt product signals, but can be overcome by metal detectors running multiple frequencies simultaneously


characteristics. For example, batch conditions in baked bread can vary very slightly between recipes. Technologies like AutoPhase accommodate this gradual change without compromising metal detector sensitivity. “Even products that look different to the metal detector won’t be rejected,” emphasises Brown. Brown cites packaging as another


common example where AutoPhase can help. Whereas inert plastic presents minimal signal, metallised films and the application of print can vary between rolls. “Just a small change can present itself as a big signal to a sensitive metal detector,” claims Brown. Although once deemed a major challenge for metal detectors, today’s advanced simultaneous frequency systems are much more reliable inspecting pre- wrapped products. For food packaged in cans, tins or foil,


x-ray inspection systems can play a critical complementary role. “Often, a system like Sparc’s Apollo bridges the gap in inspection capabilities and ensures the most robust screening process for contaminants. If a product has been mispackaged, an x-ray can pick this up, ensuring absolute quality of the end product,” says Brown.


Cause and eFFeCT The presence of xenobiotic compounds is routinely monitored and tightly controlled by regulatory bodies. However, farming practices, regional soil structures and natural crop cycles, although rare, can also influence the nutrient content of fresh produce. Inspecting potatoes grown, for example, in iron rich soils might require a slightly different calibration setting to those grown the other side of the country. Changeable protein levels in flour are another example of seasonal variations.


Seldom would these changes directly impact the performance of inspection systems, however the raw ingredient changes can influence the chemical composition of a baked product like bread. These changing attributes must be considered. Phil Brown recalls an example of butter


samples that even tested his scientific wisdom. He recounts: “Butter is usually categorised as a wet product. However, when we ran these butter samples through a Fortress metal detector it automatically calibrated to a dry product. No one understood why. Further investigations tracked the cause down to the cattle feed and geographical environmental factors. The milk produced was influencing the butter characteristics. Causing it to present to the metal detector as a dry product.” A metal detector that can run multiple


frequencies simultaneously, such as the Fortress Interceptor, is ideal as it can accurately inspect a variety of conductivities at the same time. Features like single pass product learning and automatic calibration also help, as operatives are not constantly resetting the machine to accommodate different product effect, shapes, sizes and orientation. Never underestimate the influence of


environmental factors, advises Brown. “When it comes to food safety, there’s always a cause and a consequence. Having deep rooted experience about how different food products behave and change, the conditions that cause these reactions, and the relearning limits of inspection equipment is critical. With expertise in metal detection, x-ray, weighing, bulk and combi systems, Fortress and Sparc have together got the whole food safety matrix covered.”


Fortress Technology www.fortresstechnology.co.uk


esigned for inspecting product formats such as


bread loaves and meat joints weighing up to six kilograms, the Theia from Sparc Systems may look like a beast of a system, but capable of inspecting over 250 packs per minute it can certainly shift. Under its robust framework, the Theia remains one of the most sensitive, precise and dynamic X-ray and checkweighing combination systems on the market today. Created for bakery, dairy, produce, protein and non-food


manufacturers seeking to comply with regulatory codes of practice while improving line efficiency, the Theia delivers dynamic weight monitoring to reduce product giveaway. Simultaneously, the electric drive X-ray accurately looks for and rejects products with contaminated foreign bodies, including metal, glass and bone. Enhancing quality control and providing QA managers with cohesive real-time reporting. The high resolution of the metal ceramic X-ray tubes


enables the Theia to detect foreign materials with sensitivity levels that outperform any current X-ray technology. Driving increased product quality and security, while reducing the risk of costly product recalls. Inspecting up to 250 product packs per minute


(sometimes more if needed), if a contaminant is detected, the product is sent to a dedicated lockable reject station. An in-line, servo driven reject system removes the need for compressed air, offering potential savings of up to £4,000 a year on running costs. Aside from energy savings, one of the key advantages of the


electric drive is being able to locate the two reject units beneath the Theia conveyor. Reducing the width of the system. After checking for contaminants, each product passes


seamlessly onto the dynamic high-spec checkweigher conveyor. By digitising the checkweighing process to achieve ± 0.25 gram weight accuracy, manufacturers can rapidly achieve productivity gains and save thousands of pounds a week in product giveaway. “In some cases, our customers have reported a 55 per cent reduction in product giveaway,” highlights Sparc’s European sales manager Charlie Graham. Resulting in a very fast machine payback. Rugged and durable, the Theia uses stable digital


processing and dynamic load cell software to adjust to and filter out mechanical vibrations commonplace in food production environments. Optimising the load cell and micro-resistors, the weight sensors reset rapidly, allowing for rapid and precise weight checks on individual packs. Trend feedback is instantly fed upstream to filling, portioning and packing automation equipment. Signalling when to increase or decrease fill quantity. A single, clear, touch-screen control panel offers constant


feedback on operational elements including volume, weight and speed. Utilising the principles of Industry 4.0, integrated data collection software provides instant live OEE data, reporting directly to production and QA personnel. The Theia can be supplied with up to 500 pro-programmed


weight and product categories as well as an unlimited number of retailer Code of Practice test parameters. sparc-systems.com


FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS | APRIL 2021 17


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  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54