Machinery Update September \ October 2017

Components
www.machineryupdate.co.uk september/october 2017 MACHINERY UPDATE 45
Self-monitoring coder will help
businesses improve their OEE
Interactive Coding Equipment
(ICE) will launch a next
generation thermal transfer
overprinter (TTO) which is
able to monitor and report
on the quality of each code
it produces. This largely
removes the need to include
a vision system on the line
in order to meet increasing
demands from retailers for
code quality checks.
ICE says its new Zodiac
Hawk TTO will help
businesses in their drive to
achieve improved Overall
Equipment Effectiveness
(OEE) by being the first coder
that can report on all three
elements of OEE, with quality
now included alongside
performance and availability.
Equally important, the
coder’s ability to provide early
warning of any potential
loss of code quality will help
to minimise production
disruption and downtime.
It will also reduce the risk
of customer complaints or
the possibility of a product
recall, and its cost
implications and potential
damage to brand reputation.
The new coder is billed as a major step forward in thermal transfer overprinting
“We believe the Zodiac
Hawk represents a major step
forward in thermal transfer
overprinting,” says ICE
director Chris Simpson.
“A reduction in code quality
can disrupt production and
has the potential to generate
consumer complaints but in
the past, monitoring codes
effectively has required
investment in additional
expensive equipment,” he
continues. “Now with the
Hawk, this vital task is carried
out as part of the actual
coding operation, offering
a highly efficient and costeffective
means of ensuring
the quality of every code.”
The TTO features iAssure,
an internal checking system
that assesses the spent
ribbon after each code has
been produced to determine
whether the print quality has
been good enough. If the code
is deemed to be unacceptable,
the Zodiac Hawk can signal
for the pack to be rejected
and if the fault persists, can
declare a trend of deterioration
and stop the line entirely.
All information on poor
quality codes, along with
guidance for rectifying the
problem, is reported on
the control screen or may
be accessed and printed
off remotely to enable
manufacturers to take
immediate action.
This helps to minimise
line downtime and limits the
amount of codes with poor
quality which otherwise may
have exited the manufacturing
process, says ICE.
In addition to its ability
to self-monitor code quality,
the Zodiac Hawk also offers
a number of other features
such as its ability to operate
without compressed air to
generate the necessary force
for the printhead and, the fact
it can operate in continuous
or intermittent print modes.
This has significantly
increased print speeds and
throughput capability, with
line speeds as high as 700
packs per minute possible,
explains Simpson.
STAND C65
W www.interactivecoding.co.uk
The full product portfolio for foreign body
detection, including new options, is shown
Minebea Intec continues to
expand its range of solutions
for foreign body detection
with the introduction of a
new x-ray inspection system:
‘Dymond Bulk’ set to be
unveiled at the show. This will
be demonstrated alongside the
freefall metal detection system
Vistus while a new software
release for statistical process
controls: SPC@Enterprise 3.0,
will also be presented.
Dymond Bulk reliably
inspects bulk goods like
nuts, smaller fruits, frozen
vegetables, and also spices,
coffee and seeds, and rejects
any foreign bodies it identifies.
The x-ray system not only
identifies foreign bodies made
from metal, plastic and stone,
but also bits of dirt and glass,
which has obvious benefits for
all goods that are introduced
into the production process
straight from the field.
When it comes to processing
granulated raw materials and
foodstuffs, Minebea offers
another reliable checkpoint
in the form of the freefall
metal detection system called
Vistus. This modular detection
system can be equipped with
tubes and rejection devices
that are suitable even for dusty
products or granules.
It detects and eliminates
all metal foreign bodies
including ferrous, non-ferrous
and even non-magnetic
stainless steel.
STAND A30
W www.minebea-intec.com
The
modular
Vistus
system
is on show