When we think about force measurement and its relation to product development, we often consider the aerospace, automotive or industrial industry; however, Interface have provided sensors for industrial automation solutions to thousands of customers using in-stock as well as custom application-specific sensors for OEM equipment to the food processing and packaging industries for many years. Many of Interface’s customers use load cells and torque transducers to test and develop machinery used in the consumer packaging industry.
Interface are manufacturers of a full range of load cells providing the food processing and packaging industry with sensor technologies that increase efficiency and reduce waste. Like many industrial facilities, organisations are pushing hard to integrate new technology and automation that makes processes faster, more adaptable, and smart.
One of the factors critical to creating a smarter factory is by utilising force measurement sensors designed for collecting data in each production phase, as well as monitoring equipment in use for performance optimisation.
If you have ever wondered how a pill, a piece of candy or a can of food gets a little logo stamped on it without crushing it or how every bag of chips is nearly filled to the same capacity, chances are a load cell or torque transducer was involved.
Interface has a wide variety of precision-based accurate and reliable sensors used for various applications in food processing and packaging. Our customers are using miniature load cells within the production line to apply the exact force needed to delicately press a logo onto an edible product. We have others using multi-axis sensors from Interface to verify accuracy of intricately machined parts while moving through the manufacturing process.
Below are additional examples that highlight uses case of actual applications in food processing and packaging. Additional industrial application highlights can be found in our solutions overview by clicking here.
Click here for a larger image
A food processing plant wanted accurate results of their in-motion check weigher when food is weighed and processed while moving down the belt. A check weigher is an automated machine for checking the weight of packaged commodities. This included ensuring production line efficiency and food quality, real-time results of their food weighed, and a load cell that can endure the food industry’s soiled environment.
Interface offered a solution using multiple SPI High-Capacity Platform Scale Load Cells that could be installed in the customer’s equipment that is used through the production line where product is weighed on the conveyor. The SPI High-Capacity Platform Scale Load Cells delivers precise weighing data. When connected to the 920i Programmable Weight Indicator and Controller, the solution provides the customer real-time results of the weight of the food. The 920i Programmable Weight Indicator and Controller can also read up to four scale channels in real-time. The processing gains in efficiency were visualized and managed during the weighing process to optimize control and production.
Click here for a larger image
A beverage bottle manufacturer wanted to dispense the right amount of fluid into their bottles, and then weigh their bottles to ensure it is at the labelled weight on their product packaging. This is both to minimise waste, but also to meet the standard requirements noted on the packaging. Interface suggested using the MBP Miniature Beam Load Cell, and attaching it under a plate or platform the water bottle is placed on while it is being filled with fluids. The force weight is measured by the MBP Miniature Beam Load Cell, and connected to the 9870 High-Speed High-Performance TEDS Ready Indicator where results are captured, displayed, and recorded by the customer utilising their water bottle assembly machinery. With this solution, the water bottle manufacturer received highly accurate results of each water bottle weighed in real-time, using the accuracy to reduce waste and speed processing time.
Click here for a larger image
A snack manufacturing brand wanted to weigh the amount of consumable food product automatically dispersed into the bags during the packaging process. In this case, they needed to weigh their potato chips packaged and ensure the potato chips are at the exact weight needed due to regulatory standards. Interface’s solution was to use multiple SPI Platform Scale Load Cells and install it to the potato multi-head weigher and packaging machine. The SPI Platform Scale Load cells were installed inside of the mount that attaches the head weigher to the packaging machine. Force results from the potato chips bag fill are read by the load cells and sent to the ISG Isolated DIN Rail Mount Signal Conditioner, where the customer was able to control the automated production from their command center.
The customer was able to determine the weight of the potato chips distributed into their bags with highly accurate results. They also were able to control the automated production process with the provided instrumentation. They will use this same weighing method for other snacks that need packaging utilizing the same sensor solutions.
To learn more about Interface solutions designed for the modern factory, or specifically the food and beverage industry, contact our expert application engineers at AMS Instrumentation & Calibration Pty Ltd.
Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Denis
A winery refitted its bottling plant, upgrading its drives and air conditioning to increase its...
Australian consumers have key features in mind when biting into a burger and want the right...
In chemistry, chromatography refers to all those physico-chemical separation processes in which...
The importance of leak test food packaging to waste reduction
Rockwell Automation launches ROKLive 2022 in Sydney, presenting vision for the future of industrial automation and software in the Food and Beverage industry
Welcome to the World of LC-MS/MS for Food and Beverage Testing
The use of Radial Flow Column (RFC) for large-scale chromatography processes
Leuze DRT25C — dynamic reference diffuse sensor
The optimum plant-based taste experience
Testing food textural properties with Lloyd TA1
MET0003C - X12 Global Teaser
Employees at Risk of Hearing Loss: Importance of Hearing Protection. "Read Now So You Can Hear Later"
Speak Up Save Lives app marks milestone of 10,000 reports
Director fined after labour hire worker's arm amputated
Top tips: choosing the best work boots for any job
Train manufacturer fined after worker sustains crush injury
ABB synchronous reluctance motors and drives enable reduced carbon emissions in an energy efficiency upgrade for Hobart CBD building
The EchoStorm Venturi Aerator Solves Algae Issue For Craig Mostyn Group
AEMO report: Australia accelerating towards net zero
Using green infrastructure to fight extreme weather
Scientists use brewery waste to make 'artificial atoms'
How IoT-enabled chemical systems can help with cleaning staff retentions
The anatomy of a decarbonised building
Where does real interoperability start?
Effective healthcare cleaning — saving lives and healthcare costs every day
Westwick-Farrow Media Locked Bag 2226 North Ryde BC NSW 1670 ABN: 22 152 305 336 www.wfmedia.com.au Email Us
Our food industry media channels - What’s New in Food Technology & Manufacturing magazine and the Food Processing website - provide busy food manufacturing, packaging and design professionals with an easy-to-use, readily available source of information that is crucial to gaining valuable industry insight. Members have access to thousands of informative items across a range of media channels.
Membership is FREE to qualified industry professionals across Australia.