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30 MACHINERY UPDATE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 www.machineryupdate.co.uk Feature: Name Snacks here Detecting metal is evolving for today Although metal detection is often portrayed as ‘old technology’ – in contrast to the ‘new’ x-ray systems – metal detection hardware and software is evolving all the time and offers snack producers many benefits, says Sarah Ketchin, managing director of Fortress Technology. In most food applications, for example, there is some sort of ‘product effect’ on the detector which the equipment must factor into its operation. “With most of today’s metal detectors, this ‘phasing’ or calibration is an automatic process, simplifying the integration of a system into a line.” And with fewer, and often less technically skilled line operators becoming the norm in the snacks industry, Ketchin believes the importance of this element of simplicity cannot be overstated. This is true also for the human-machine interface, which Fortress has worked hard to make more intuitive. As might be expected, the sensitivity of systems has also improved. Fortress Technology’s latest FM software can improve performance in some applications by 40%, thanks to an algorithm which factors in both time and amplitude with any given detection signal. This responds to increased demands from retailers for the ability to detect ever-smaller metal contaminants. In recent years, retailers have become more risk-averse when it Sarah Ketchin of Fortress Technology Sensitivity guaranteed FM Software is backwards compatible and known to improve detection performance by 40% comes to food safety and quality, increasingly imposing their own – often more stringent – protocols and standards on suppliers. As well as ensuring that the required form of inspection is in place, to the necessary specification, the retailer ‘safety net’ will also often include assurances about regular system checks to ensure that all QA systems – including metal detection – are functioning correctly. Some retailers will put pressure on suppliers, or potential suppliers to invest in x-ray contaminant detection. “Being able to demonstrate the reliability and improved sensitivity of installed metal detectors (with FM software, for example) may be one way that snack suppliers can resist this sort of pressure,” Ketchin tells Machinery Update. So why choose metal detection rather than x-ray? Ketchin says the answer will depend on the application as x-ray remains far more expensive, both in terms of capital cost and running costs. “Expect to pay in the region of £35,000-£40,000 to install x-ray, compared with between £4,000 and £18,000 for metal detection, depending on the size and complexity of the application,” she explains. The challenge for product manufacturers is to know as much about potential sources of contamination as possible before selecting the type of inspection equipment. “Obviously, if your potential contamination is all, or mostly, metal-based it makes sense to consider metal detection as a first option,” she says. “On the other hand, for some products the risk comes from a range of contaminants, or nonmetal contaminants, and in this case x-ray might be advisable.” T 01295 256266 W www.fortresstechnology.co.uk
www.machineryupdate.co.uk JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 MACHINERY UPDATE 31 Robot loading aids accuracy Kliklok’s collating robotic loader can be supplied in three versions depending on requirements When Kliklok launched its with a simple quick release system for Collating Robotic Loader size changes. (CRL) and Race Track Three versions of the CRL are available system, it attracted the depending on speed and tracking attention of many major distance requirements, with optional food companies wishing to pack snack modules such as a Carton Management products such as cereal bars. System which provides automatic set A new area for Kliklok, the CRL is a up for continuous running of cartons - flexible machine ideally suited to handle avoiding ‘dead time’ waiting for cartons to the output from low to high speed index along. machines, such as flow wrappers, and With software written in OMAC collate wrapped products into cartons (PackML) standard, the menu driven or trays at up to 600 products a minute. touch screen enables easy setting and The CRL incorporates advanced design adjustment of all conveyor speeds, electronic motion control technology collations and robotic positioning, as using a combination of servo motor well as accessing shift data, performance drives and a robotic Flex Picker. The monitoring, on screen diagnostics and CRL has a servo driven product infeed multi-language selection. conveyor with vacuum belt & abort Several demonstrations of the CRL system, plus a servo driven race track, all have taken place at Kliklok in Bristol to with digital linear timing adjustment for Europe’s leading food producers. increased accuracy. Carton infeed and T 01275 836131 positioning AMJ Maters belts MU J-F are 2015_Layout also servo driven 1 19/01/2015 W 14:39 www.kliklok-int.com Page 1 The coder’s ribbon drive is maintenance free Changeovers are quick and easy to complete Interactive Coding Equipment says maximising throughput and minimising downtime for changeovers are key requirements for the coding of snacks products which is why its Zodiac thermal transfer overprinter – with its 1200 metre ribbon capacity for long production runs – is ideal for this market. It can run at speeds up to 220 packs a minute. These long runs can be further boosted thanks to the machine’s ribbon saving features, which allow the whole width of the ribbon to be used in applications where there is only a narrow code required. This can increase effective ribbon availability by as much as 6 km. The coder also boasts a maintenance free ribbon drive and is able to operate in both intermittent and continuous mode with no hardware changes or tools required. Changeovers are carried out in less than one minute thanks to the easy to use ribbon cassette. T 0115 964 0144 W www.interactivecoding.co.uk Lantech modular case erector capable of up to 30 erected cases per minute • Unique vacuum pick up frame • Ergonomic magazine for easy filling of case blanks • Small footprint • Easy size change from one format to another • Supplied as a hot melt glue option or adhesive tape • Colour operator touch screen panel • Can be a stand-alone machine or integrated into other machinery • Installed and commissioned with after sales support C1000/2000 case erector from Lantech 17 Elizabeth Court, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 8PF T: 01480 382739 M: 07764 772965 E: andrew@maters.co.uk www.maters.co.uk
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