Inspection and Monitoring Solutions Add to Profitability
With the demand for food growing exponentially worldwide, a much higher level of automation is required in the industry – and this includes the production of baked goods. High-precision, reliable technology is needed to inspect the products in virtually every stage of processing in order to guarantee the highest level of quality.
Silo weighing solutions and floor scales record the exact material quantities during the various production phases and truck scales perform the same task at goods receipt and goods issue. Checkweighers record the product weight for quality assurance purposes. Metal and X-ray inspection systems ensure during various process stages that the end products do not contain anything other than the desired ingredients. Every component that comes into direct contact with the food must fulfil strict hygienic design requirements to minimize any safety risks for the consumer.
Inspection Equipment Advancements
Check and Detect specialists, Loma Systems, announced they would have some of the latest technologies in inspection on display at IBIE (International Baking Industry Exposition), specifically designed to improve production quality control and compliance for the baking industry.
According to the company, on display will be the IQ4 Metal Detector, designed to provide a fully-functional, adjustable metal detection conveyor solution. The system incorporates a 7” color touchscreen with a user-friendly interface that is designed to help make setup easier and reduce user errors. Loma’s conveyor systems comply with strict international standards such as IFS, BRC and FSMA. They can also be supplied with “Higher Level Compliance” to meet the strictest of Retail Codes of Practice.
The innovative X5C Compact, Loma’s smallest X-ray system will also be presented. The machine is ideal if the requirement is to detect more than metal. The X5C Compact detects all types of metal (i.e. stainless steel, ferrous and non-ferrous), bone, glass or dense plastics. The X5C Compact can be used for basic product integrity tests such as missing items, objective checking and fill level. It is especially good at inspecting products packaged in foil or heavy metallized film packaging and overcoming the problems with Ferrous in Foil metal detectors. This X-ray inspection system offers plug-and-play installation and software, reliable inspection and low ongoing running costs. Loma says the X5C is ideal for factories wanting to take the first step into using X-ray technology.
METTLER TOLEDO Product Inspection will also demonstrate a variety of inspection systems for the commercial baking industry at IBIE. The company will present its new X34C x-ray inspection system for small, individually-packaged products. Offering a unique combination of fast throughputs and a compact footprint, the X34C is ideal for inspecting a variety of confectionary, snack and bakery products immediately after packages exit a high-speed flow wrapper or pack sealer. Only 700 mm long, including its integrated reject device, this x-ray system is suitable for installation in tight spaces. The X34C achieves accurate performance while running at exceptionally high speeds of up to 400 packages per minute (ppm).
The company’s C35 AdvancedLine checkweigher, which is designed specifically to withstand harsh production environments, delivers uncompromising weighing precision at high speeds. Rated to IP69, the system offers a weighing range from 25 g to 7 kg and inspects up to 250 ppm.
You can read the rest of this article in the July-August issue of European Baker & Biscuit magazine, which you can access by clicking here.