FOOD & bEvERAGE
MADE TO ORDER
RETHINKING CUSTOMISED FOOD SAFETY COMMISSIONS
In our daily lives as consumers, we have become accustomed to a high degree of customisation. In fact, we have grown to expect it, with much of the success of companies like Netflix and Amazon stemming from their ability to create tailored offerings. However, in the world of food production, the concept of customisation can still feel like an extravagance. In particular, smaller companies may fear that ordering a bespoke metal detection with a custom- built conveying system will be an expensive and complicated process, fraught with delays. Thankfully, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Jodie Curry, commercial manager at Fortress Technology and Sparc Systems, highlights several situations when bespoke can be better.
E
uropean food manufacturers rightly demand extremely high levels of performance from their inspection
equipment. From a safety and brand integrity perspective products must reach consumers free from contamination. However, inspection machines like metal detectors are highly sensitive. performance can be affected by various environmental factors. These should be considered and addressed during the design phase of any system. Noise immunity technology can reduce many of these challenges and is built into Fortress metal detectors as standard. Factoring in the conveying and reject system is
equally important to guarantee reliable operation and avoid false readings. For example, when the footprint is tight, a customised solution may be the only way to ensure that metal detector performance is not compromised. Aperture size is also critical to optimal
operation. A metal detector’s performance becomes more limited as the aperture size increases in relation to the product being inspected. Yet, too small and there is a risk that product will not pass through. At times, customising the aperture around the product to be inspected is one way to ensure the metal detector will perform to its full capability. Rather than being over-engineered or
complicated, these factors are essential design
elements of any successful food inspection system. purchasing a customised machine with an integrated conveyor system, fully assembled and quality checked by a reputable food inspection manufacturer, is a stellar way to achieve functionality, productivity and the best performance.
IT’S NOT uNuSuAl Demand for customised solutions is far more common than people realise, accounting for around 20 per cent of Fortress conveyor orders. Even vector conveyors are somewhat customised to specific manufacturers’ needs. Often, Fortress engineers are tasked with
configuring a new inspection machine with legacy upstream or downstream equipment. This can limit the options. There are also design limitations. For instance, the dimensions of a standard vector conveyor will not work within the footprint. Trying to shoehorn it in may even invade the detectors’ metal-free zone and cause false reading. Due to line speed, belt width or product
profile, a particular reject mechanism may be required, for instance sweep arm or retractable band rejects. Recently, Fortress’ North American colleagues
installed a customised twin-lane inspection/ conveyor system for a pizza crust manufacturer. Although the line speed was not particularly fast,
and the product was not especially difficult to handle, this project still required a customised approach. Mainly because the detection system needed to precisely align with existing upstream and downstream legacy equipment. In this instance, the only viable option was a
customised S-curve conveyor. The reject mechanism also proved challenging. Air blast was not suitable because of the belt width. A kicker proved incompatible because of the low profile of pizza. Lastly, there was insufficient space to accommodate a flap style reject. Instead, Fortress engineered an innovative retracting reject mechanism.
STAyINg ON TASk When it comes to business continuity, reliability, agility and productivity are key. Contrary to popular belief, custom-designed inspection systems are only marginally more expensive than standard designs. It has long been Fortress’ philosophy to support the optimal operation of all inspection systems. If poorly designed or installed, the risk of a contaminated product entering the food chain greatly increases. As well as the impact to human health, the long-term cost implications for a food business dealing with a contamination scandal are stratospheric. The average cost of a recall according to a joint industry study by the Food Marketing
42 SEpTEMbER 2021 | FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS
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