As more software and mobile devices become available, processors now have a myriad of options to automate and/or streamline data collection and retrieval.
With technology advances, robots have convinced many processors that they are worthy of hire, speeding production while improving quality and food safety.
The OpX Leadership Network has been busy developing new solutions groups, according to Managing Director Steve Schlegel, who provided an update at the recent PACK EXPO East 2017 Innovation Stage sessions in Philadelphia.
With single-serve drink systems continuing to grow in popularity, there is an increasing requirement to balance the demand for capsules with sustainable packaging solutions.
The stacking ability of the new IML packaging has made transport more stable and safer. Thanks to advanced injection molded technology, the packaging weighs 10 percent less.
Tetra Pak’s VP of Marketing Chris Gretchko recently took some time to talk with Food Engineering about packaging trends and how brands can best react to the changes.
Built for food quality labs, the METER Group Skala integrated quality control system automatically collects data from existing measuring devices and processes it into a single, unified control center.
The A-B-C Model 19 packer automatically indexes and accumulates each product load before sliding it through stainless steel loading funnels into a shipping case.
Hardy Dynamic open source checkweighing systems automatically weigh in-motion products of virtually any shape or size in containers such as boxes, cans, bottles, rigid shrinkwrapped packages and flexible packages.
The Reading Thermal SCORPION SV8 software food safety module enables bakers using the SCORPION system to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act’s new Kill Step Validation requirements.
The YTI touchscreen valve controller provides user-selectable 24VDC or 110VAC control voltage for valve actuation and on/off control of system pumping.
The Inpro/Seal VB45-S bearing isolator has an interface coupled with an enlarged contamination chamber to protect bearings from the ingress of dust particulates and powerful water jets.
Designed for pump applications, the Zero-Max ETP EXPAND bushing connects a rotating piston lobe to a hollow shaft, locking the impeller/lobe wheel of the pump motor into position using 1 actuation screw.
The Hinds-Bock 10P-02 10- piston filling machine provides high-speed filling of portion control products, such as quacamole, hummus, cheese, salsa, peanut and nut butters and condiments.
The WSI Global EdgePack semiautomatic carton accumulator is situated after a folder/gluer in a carton converting line, where it turns the glued carton shingle onto its folded edge.
Keeping the NO sensor cooled with an internal cooling system, the E Instruments E8500 Cooled NOx portable emissions analyzer measures, displays and records the NO sensor temperature.
Kaeser DSD 125 - 175 rotary screw compressors include a cooling design, eco-friendly filter element, integral moisture separator with a drain, and an electronic thermal management system.
Engineered for 65 to 500kVA applications, the Riello UPS Master HP UL 3-phase uninterruptible power supply includes an IGBT-based rectifier and digital signal processing.
Capable of moving bulk products in straight-up 90° sanitary applications, the Dorner AquaPruf VBT vertical belt technology conveyor features a staggered sidewall belt.
Crydom PMP Series solid state relays control load power in proportion to an analog control input, including a 0 to 5VDC or 0 to 10VDC voltage or a 4-20mA DC current.
The Larson EPF-30-PT Class I Division 1 and Class II Division 1 explosion-proof fan is rated for use in hazardous locations where flammable or explosive vapors, gases or dusts exist.
The autoVimation LED ring light includes an opto-isolated wide-range trigger input and an integrated strobe microcontroller that allows the customization of parameters such as pulse length, trigger behavior and current amplification.
Stäubli TX2 6-axis collaborative robots can be used in all facets of automation, including high-volume manufacturing, Industry 4.0 applications and man-robot collaboration.
The Vertiflo Series 900 industrial vertical immersion vortex sump pump provides an unrestricted flow since the impeller is not normally in contact with the solids being pumped.
Built for the food and beverage industry, the Primera LX2000 pigment inkjet desktop label printer creates labels that can include photos, graphics, illustrations and text.
The LOCK N’ POP Unitizer 150F system comes with PLC control to automatically regulate and track the flow rate, range and application amounts of its water-based cohesive.
The ASCO Numatics 617 Series Sentronic proportional electronic regulator provides pneumatic pressure control in applications with limited power supplies.
Offering high-speed automation for wine, beer and spirits packing, the Douglas TriVex RLi top loader and sealer can run 7 bottle sizes including 200 ml, 500 ml and 1.5 L.
Clark Solutions Boxer 9K/9QQ peristaltic pumps are available with 12 or 24VDC motor and gear box options, plus a 24VDC stepper motor version with a NEMA 17 rating.
Engineered for liquid level measurement, ABB K-TEK LMT Series magnetostrictive level transmitters combine an ABB 2-wire common transmitter design with advanced signal processing.
The NETZSCH TORNADO T2 rotary lobe pump can be used in intermittent, continuous or metering applications for any kind of liquid, including media containing gas, solids or fibrous matter.
Used for the continuous dosing of high-value additives or inline dilution in food and beverage applications, Quattroflow QuattroTec Series quaternary diaphragm pumps feature a seal-less design, self-priming and dry run capabilities, a compact footprint and high-suction lift.
Engineered for mixing pastes, creams and gel-type products, the Ross VersaMix Model VMC-10 10-gal. multi-shaft mixer also can be used for powder dispersion, emulsification, dissolution, deagglomeration, homogenization, heating/cooling and deaeration.
The Unifiller servo-driven rotary piston depositor is built for portion depositing and to spread layers of soft, self-levelling batters, creams and fillings.
Gorman-Rupp Pumps Super T Series self-priming centrifugal trash pumps are available with the Eradicator solids management system for demanding applications.
Acrison precision weigh feeders use a Ratiometric Digital Weight Resolver to instantaneously produce an unamplified, non-integrated weight signal for precise feed rate control.
The Material Transfer bag-filling system has an integral screw feeder, loss-in-weight load cells for material batching, a 6-in. square structural tub lower frame and a bulk bag support pan.
The Schenck Process E-finity low-pressure, continuous, dense-phase conveying system uses pressure monitoring and airflow corrections to move fragile materials in all conditions.
Volkmann high-containment unloading stations range from a secure glove box dump station with containment to OEB5 with push-push and HEPA filter options.