Food Manufacturing

Malt producer improves productivity by installing ABB drive

A production facility that turns barley into malt for use in beer and whisky production has eliminated machine stoppages, increased productivity, improved safety and cut maintenance costs by installing a new germination machine controlled by an ABB variable-speed drive (VSD).

18th June 2018

NSK Molded-Oil bearings offer long life at food plants

In the food industry, comprehensive cleaning regimes are commonplace as companies look to meet stringent sector requirements on hygiene. However, such practices can prove detrimental to production line components, not least the bearings that provide motion in critical machinery, equipment and systems. Here, spraying with hot steam, high-pressure water jets or very strong cleaning agents can cause two principal problems: foreign objects entering the bearings; and lubricant being washed out of the bearings. For these reasons, NSK offers a comprehensive range of Molded-Oil bearings that is purpose-designed to deliver extended operating life in harsh food industry environments.

1st June 2018

Optimising repeatability and efficiency through automation

The roots of craft brewing come from experimentation and a creative process throughout which the brewer is closely involved with all aspects of the brew such as ingredients, timing and process variables. This hands-on and artisanal aspect of the process is what put the "Craft" in craft brewing and as such the idea of relinquishing control of any of the steps through automation tends to come with a stigma of losing that craft nature in the final product.

29th May 2018

I/O connectors with integrated surge protection save space

Modern highly automated production plants rely on industrial connectors for the supply of energy, the communication of data and, above all else, the reliable and efficient transmission of signals from measuring, control and regulation technology. Here, transmission quality depends on the performance of both the key interconnection devices for inputs and outputs in the central electrical control cabinet and the protective devices applied within signal circuits.

21st May 2018

Stylish wine storage with 3D-printed igus springs

At the recent IMM furniture fair in Cologne, Germany, a group of 15 prospective wood technicians from the Gsechs University of Applied Sciences in Hamburg presented a very elegant wine storage series, called Dolio. Made from teak/oak, cork and slate veneer, each of the designs integrate self-lubricating and maintenance-free plain bearing components from igus.

9th May 2018

Baumer sensing success on inspection systems

Baumer Ltd are delighted to have made an important contribution on a successful project, working in conjunction with The Technology Business, a Manchester-based provider of integrated automation and inspection systems. Baumer supplied their Verisens VS XC and XF Vision Sensors which have proven to be an effective vision system for The Technology Business inspection systems.

8th May 2018

High-speed quality check with high-performance camera technology

Whether sauces, snacks or ready meals have to be filled and packaged, high-throughput and quick format changes matter in the packaging systems and food industry - and to the highest standards of quality and hygiene, too. For this purpose, the sensors used have to be able to do one thing above all: meet high demands for power, flexibility and hygiene all at the same time. To do this, the packaging machine experts from SN Maschinenbau have rethought the entire concept of a bag-filling system used at notable companies in the food industry, tackled this subject innovatively and have opted for the smart camera technology from Leuze electronic for verifying codes and expiration dates.

17th April 2018

Conductivity meter is useful for CIP systems

The food and beverage industry is faced with continually rising quality standards, increasing cost pressure and strict hygienic regulations. As a result requirements for processing systems and efficient cleaning are growing. In order to help guarantee food safety, production and filling facilities must be cleaned regularly. This is usually carried out using an automated CIP (Clean-in-Place) system which eliminates the need to dismantle the process system and is often part of a fully automated production process.

4th January 2018

PRT2 Track System for high-performance digital printing

Till GmbH, Germany, develop and manufacture specialised digital printing machines for the drinks industry. Their most recent development is the SmartPrint digital print machine, which is capable of printing directly onto 3D containers without requiring a label. The system is the most powerful in their range and is currently being developed in Kelkheim, Germany, before delivery to customers. The SmartPrint process is fully automated and can be adapted batch by batch, offering the ability to print a variety of motifs on regular and contoured containers. The printing process can therefore be tailored to the precise needs of individual customers, which reduces costs and capital commitments. These conditions, however, place certain technical requirements on the production process.

27th November 2017

Precision tension measurement boosts throughput and quality

TTS Systems was recently asked by a customer to solve the following problem: measure the tension in a 25mm-wide tape as it is wound onto a specially shaped production mandrel; in addition, the tension must be varied as the component is wound.

24th November 2017

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