Food Manufacturing

Mobile robots solve customisation conundrum for manufacturers

While stationary robots are well-established and important parts of many factories and production plants, mobile platforms and manipulators will become an integral part of the factory of the future. Bruno Adam, Omron's Mobile Projects Director Europe answers how the manufacturing process is evolving and why factories, driven by greater product customisation, will move from traditional linear models of conveyors and autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) to more intelligent types of mobile robots.

28th September 2017

How to optimise performance of food and beverage machinery

British Fluid Power Association and British Fluid Power Distributors Association member companies FPE Seals, MP Filtri UK and IMI Precision Engineering outline some of the current key areas of discussion within the food and beverage industry and consider how to aim to achieve optimum performance.

22nd September 2017

Wave of success for new flowmeters"¦

Flow measurement is an essential part of many manufacturing processes in both the food and the pharmaceutical industries. To serve this need, there is a vast array of measuring devices, from the most basic paddle wheel to an advanced Coriolis flowmeter. However, each has its own constraints and making the right choice is often a compromise. Damien Moran, Account Manager, Ireland, for Bürkert Fluid Control Systems, explains how recent advances in flowmeter design can benefit many hygienic processes.

21st September 2017

Ultrasonic screening systems boost powder throughput

Avid gym-goers and time-pressed managers alike have undoubtedly noticed the rise in powdered food products in recent years. While they offer a quick fix for consumers, the production of these products can present challenges to food manufacturers. Here, Stephen Harding, managing director of Gough Engineering, explains how powder manufacturers can maximise throughput and efficiency.

10th August 2017

Now is the time for Food and Drink SMEs to invest in automation

There's never been a better time for food and drink SMEs to invest in robots for the workplace. Sales and exports are booming, and robots are more powerful than ever. Paul Wilkinson, Commercial & Information Systems Manager at Pacepacker Services, examines the current challenges of the food and drink industry and details how robots can assist SMEs to boost productivity and compete with larger industry players.

28th July 2017

Anticipatory maintenance prevents unplanned downtime

Tapio Torikka of Bosch Rexroth examines some of the limitations of existing maintenance regimes and looks at new systems that are, for the first time, harnessing real-time data to enable a truly anticipatory approach to be taken to machine maintenance.

20th July 2017

Optimum level and flow control for food industry processes

Process control equipment used in the food and beverage industry has to operate effectively with a wide variety of fluids, granules and powders. Add to this different viscosities and the requirement for a hygienic environment, plus, the ability to keep process lines clean and sterile, then the scale of challenge in managing effective flow and level control in a food processing line becomes apparent. Mark Lilley, Field Segment Manager .Hygienic - Food and Beverage for Bürkert Fluid Control Systems, looks at the essential features required to maintain effective and efficient level and flow control.

12th July 2017

Three tips for heat transfer systems

The Oxford Electric Bell has been ringing constantly for over 175 years - so much so, that the apparatus has been dubbed the world's most durable battery. But after all this time, it is still a scientific mystery how the bell has functioned for so long. For operators of thermal fluid systems, keeping operations running doesn't have to be a mystery. Here, Clive Jones, managing director Global Heat Transfer, gives three considerations for manufacturers operating thermal fluid heat transfer systems to safeguard the system's future for the long term.

10th July 2017

How electrical interference can cause pacemaker issues

During the French Revolution, beheading was the preferred method of execution. The guillotine was used for thousands of executions, meaning there was no shortage of experimental material for biologist Marie Francois Bichat. Bichat tested the electrical stimulation of hearts, which was instrumental in the development of the modern day pacemaker. Nowadays, pacemakers are commonly used to maintain a regular heart rate. Here, Keith Armstrong, worldwide electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) expert at EMC Standards, looks at how electrical interference can cause pacemaker issues.

23rd June 2017

Pacepacker robots deep dive into BDUs

The average human arm measures just 63.5 centimetres. This makes placing heavy loads of products into deep food Bulk Display Units (BDUs) challenging and subjects manual handlers to high risk of repetitive strain injuries. Torso twisting and bending to reach into low corners is especially hazardous when repeated throughout the working day.

15th June 2017

Technical Articles