AUTOMATION & PROCESS CONTROL
technology, tighter processes, and people to build resiliency and drive future success.” Many more operations are realising that change is needed,
with the global study identifying that twice as many respondents now say they lack the technology to outpace their competition, compared with last year’s survey fi ndings. It would appear that the events of recent years make a compelling business case for the adoption of new process technologies. Overall, the survey found that one-third of global
manufacturers are challenged by technology paralysis and are unable to decide between solutions. It is therefore vital that confectionery manufacturers overcome this indecision and choosing a partner with relevant expertise and experience to advise and offer guidance about implementing a fi t-for- purpose solution to meet specifi c needs can be a big help here.
Robotic benefi ts Mitsubishi Electric was one of many automation vendors to highlight its smart confectionery packaging solutions at this year’s Interpack exhibition. Its booth featured a range of chocolate-filled demos to help it demonstrate how confectionery producers can enhance their capabilities and performance using robotic applications and smart machine setups. Articulated six-axis industrial and collaborative robots on
the booth performed a number of typical packaging and factory fl oor activities with a view to showing how it is possible to speed up production and improve quality control and production fl exibility. The demo consisted of a conveyor belt that passed through three different stations. Firstly, the products went through an X-ray system that can spot foreign objects and impurities, next they are taken to a deep learning solution that evaluates packaging seal quality. Finally, a robot picks, lifts and turns around the product so that it can be weighed and then inspected by a vision system which is used to perform a fi nal check of the chocolate bars.
“With manual production
methods, there will always be a risk of human error, leading to product inconsistencies”
More is better!
“When it comes to confectionery manufacturing, the more process steps that can be automated, the more stable and reliable production becomes, with closed production loops yielding particularly successful results,” said Dr. Sandra Link, Product Manager at Makat Candy Technology, a Syntegon subsidiary. That is why Syntegon’s newest turnkey solution, the Makat NutraFlash for starchless production, features a closed production process with kitchen, depositing, and oiling technology. “Its process monitoring features ensure smooth processes and help safeguard the availability of the line,” explained Sandra. “Before depositing the jelly mass into the moulds, for example, an automated inspection system fi rst checks that the moulds are empty. Sensors along the entire line help identify equipment misalignments or deviations rom process parameters. In the event of the the integrated software detecting an error – say, a deviation from the pre- defi ned cooling temperature – this is reported immediately to the operator, via status lights on the line’s production stations, as well as via Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) – all so that operators can react quickly to minimise downtimes and reject rates.”
Packaging
Fast changing consumer demands and increasing labour scarcity can make the adoption of robotic technologies a valuable addition to packaging processes, as Dutch contract confectionery manufacturer, Vetipak, found out.
Syntegon’s newest turnkey solution for
starchless production features a closed production process with kitchen, depositing, and oiling technology.
KennedysConfection.com Kennedy’s Confection July 2023 21
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