Food Manufacturing

Robust drive systems improve beverage sector production

Standstill is a word that smacks of bitter losses to the beverage industry. For drive technology in this sector, high availability and easy maintenance are therefore absolutely essential. David McNamer, manufacturing manager at G.C. Evans Sales & Mfg, an American manufacturer of cooling and heating equipment for the food and beverage industry, explains

22nd August 2017

HBM load cells in LGC Automation weighing/packaging machines

When LGC Automation in France decided to develop its weighing and packaging machines, fitting a weight sensor which incorporated PW20i load cells from HBM was the obvious answer.

11th July 2017

Helicopter-based pylon delivery relies on wireless load sensing

Demonstrating that the electricity supply infrastructure can be developed more quickly and cost-effectively, Heli-Lift Services has pioneered the use of helicopters to remove and deliver poles and pylons in remote locations. An enabling technology in this enterprise is an innovative load sensing and monitoring technology from Sensor Technology.

22nd June 2017

Multiprotocol I/O modules simplify machines for global markets

With Profinet, EtherNet/IP and the fairly new EtherCAT protocol now available, there are multiple standards being used in industrial applications today for teams to understand and consider. It can be challenging, especially for machine builders that work internationally, to meet the expectations that come with this new landscape. Paul Just, global product line manager at Belden, discusses the topic.

15th June 2017

Carbon dioxide levels and safety considerations in winemaking

Although, at first sight, winemaking might appear to be one of the most idyllic of occupations, it is an industry with its own serious safety concerns. The fermentation process that produces the highly desirable end product, whether it be a serious earthy, rich Cabernet Sauvignon or a sweet, slightly decadent Moscato, also produces a lot of carbon dioxide. In the realm of 40 times the volume of grape juice in fact. That is a lot of carbon dioxide and the health implications of that amount of fatal gas cannot be ignored.

16th May 2017

Rotech RF1-V+ pouch coder helps Nash net bigger catch

Fishing bait producer Nash Tackle is benefitting from a 50 per cent increase in productivity after upgrading to Rotech's new RF1-V+ dedicated pouch coder for late stage customisation of packs.

3rd May 2017

SKF custom-machined seals stop high-pressure leaks

A major global confectionary manufacturer has called on specialist seal design and manufacturing expertise from SKF to solve a sticky issue in its global chocolate manufacturing operations. The solution - custom-machined seals manufactured from SKF's proprietary food-grade H-Ecopur-95A-Blue material - has eliminated the frequent seal failures and resulting product leakage that were leading to costly machine stoppages and lost production.

16th March 2017

Nimble palletising robots give factories more flexibility

With consumer buying trends influencing greater product diversification, production and packing facilities throughout the UK and Europe are increasingly leaning towards flexible robots that straddle several lines and perform multiple tasks. As testament, Pacepacker Services reports that enquires for single robots dedicated to the entire end-of-line palletising station has doubled in the last 12 months as customers move away from traditional application-specific palletising work cells.

10th March 2017

FLIR thermal camera and clamp meter pass electrician's test

When self-employed electrician Gary Fisher was given the opportunity to "˜road test' a FLIR C2 thermal imaging camera and CM174 clamp meter, he saw it as a chance to see exactly how much value these advanced devices could add to his work.

6th February 2017

Specially adapted oven chain bakes the best crumpets

The next time you tuck into some delicious warm crumpets, dripping with butter, there is every chance that they made it to your plate courtesy of specially adapted oven chain from Renold. Just recently the company won a large order to supply an award-winning bakery with 15,000lb breaking load, 5" pitch BS conveyor chain. The chain was designed with special attachments and produced at Renold's dedicated Service Centre in Bredbury, Stockport.

26th January 2017

Applications