Food Manufacturing

Clean Design pneumatic cylinders for food industry applications

Festo is launching a new generation of 'Clean Design' pneumatic actuators that are a cost-effective alternative to specialist components for the food and beverage industries. The actuators employ 'Clean Design' principles to help minimise contamination risks and are suitable for use in aggressive environments where frequent wash-downs are encountered. The first products in this new range include corrosion-resistant round and guided cylinders that use FDA (USA Food and Drug Administration) approved seals and USDA (USA Department of Agriculture) approved H1 food-grade lubricants.

9th July 2010

Uncooled NIR camera with embedded digital signal processor

The new Xenics Bobcat-1.7-320 uncooled NIR camera is a compact, cost-effective device with an embedded digital signal processor that is claimed to be unique. This processor enables the camera to undertake intelligent, real-time image processing, plus the camera has a host of inspection and quality control applications that use both subsurface NIR inspection and thermal imaging capabilities. NIR imaging has applications in the semiconductor industry, waste sorting and food inspection, as well as on-line quality control, while thermal imaging provides quality control for thermal processes and thermography between 300 and 800degC.

22nd June 2010

Concens compact in-line electric actuators from Vipa

Vipa is introducing the Concens compact in-line electric actuators that feature a permanent-magnet DC motor and planetary gear train within the slender cylindrical body. These actuators are offered in a choice of sizes (con35 and con50) and coloured finishes, and there are stainless steel versions. This style of actuator is believed to be unique.

17th June 2010

IP69K - Highly robust and suitable for hygienic applications

B&R's IP69K operating units have an ultra-modern surface design and stand up extremely well to frequent cleaning, making them an industry standard for reliable automation devices in harsh industrial environments. From visualization terminals with modular interface cards to Power Panels with integrated control and drive technology, the robust HMI devices are produced according to DIN 40050 with certified IP69K protection and are available with screen dimensions from 5.7" to 15".

11th June 2010

New Allen-Bradley Compact GuardLogix safety controllers

Rockwell is launching Allen-Bradley L43S and L45S Compact GuardLogix PACs (programmable automation controllers) that fill the gap between the company's ControlLogix systems and conventional safety relays. Machine builders can therefore benefit from compact, integrated systems for automation, motion, drive and safety control on medium-sized applications. As with the larger ControlLogix systems, the CompactLogix systems offer users a single programming environment and diagnostics, thereby reducing engineering costs and downtime.

7th June 2010

New low friction, maintenance-free plain bushes suit dry-running applications

A new range of low friction, maintenance-free plain bushes has been launched, which is ideally suited to dry-running applications, including high load, high vibration environments. The ELGOTEX range of INA plain bushes from Schaeffler (UK) Ltd provides a variety of technical advantages that stem from the product's unique, entwined double-layer design.

27th May 2010

Varidisk filters are suitable for sterile venting

Helapet's Varidisk 50mm PTFE vent filters offer excellent sterile venting for carboys, filling vessels and fermentation tanks

26th May 2010

Softline extrusions feature smooth faces on all four sides

Thinking Space Systems is now supplying the Kanya Four-sided softline extrusion in 40x40mm and 40x80mm sizes. These profiles feature smooth faces on all four sides, but with strips that can be peeled away to reveal T-slots into which fasteners can be attached.

24th May 2010

New drying system gives Britvic a productivity boost

On a poster in Britvic's premises in Leeds it says: "Our vision in production is to become the world leader in soft drink manufacture by 2012". It will involve Britvic evaluating every stage of the production process if this goal is to be achieved. One step in attaining this goal is the recent installation of a new bottle drying system that is helping to minimise downtimes to maximise production output whilst also reducing energy consumption.

20th May 2010

Drives cut production costs for Ginsters

Eight ABB standard drives are saving Ginsters bakery a potential 17% per annum on its chilled water energy bill following installation on chiller pumps at its Callington bakery in Cornwall. The bakery, which employs 370 staff producing in excess of three and a half million pastry products a week, was keen to investigate its energy use to improve efficiency and cut costs at the plant.