Fortress Technology

Fortress Technology’s Icon X-ray’s performance and defining attributes reflect its status as a fully integrated X-ray inspection system, equipped with internal view cameras and an automatic reject device to optimise floor space. The Icon X-ray deploys its proprietary IA+ algorithm, which gives the machine its processing and detection power to adapt to variable-density products that present with metal, ceramic, glass and high-density plastic contaminants. Discover the innovative features of this high-speed X-ray system on Stand B32. Stand F111

Ytron-Quadro (UK) Limited

Ytron-Quadro (UK) Ltd was established in October 1984 by Dudley Bradley, bringing together two international process equipment manufacturers (YTRON in Germany and Quadro in Canada). The company started small with a limited equipment range but quickly grew with innovations from both Quadro and YTRON as well as Dudley’s undoubted sales technique. The company has been active in supporting ISPE, as a founding member of the UK Affiliate.  We have also supported the PPMA since 1993. since we started and we continue with representation at the major industry exhibitions and conferences. In recent years the portfolio of equipment has been extended to including VMI Mixing Systems, Laboctontrole Sampling devices and Fitzpatrick milling and roller compaction systems. With three generations of the Bradley family now part of the company we are excited to be celebrating this milestone and looking forward to a fantastic future continuing to provide process solutions to the wide range of industries we serve.

Sycamore

Sycamore Process Engineering, the go-to process engineering experts for the Dairy, Food and Beverage industries.

From CIP, Pasteurisation, Mixproof Routing Manifolds, Membrane Filtration, Import and Export and other custom systems, our experience in delivering any end-to-end process solution is second to none. We aim to provide you with the best-performing process solution for your requirements. We focus on promoting the lowest operational expenditure (OPEX) and most sustainable solution by reducing consumption while maintaining product quality. Throughout September we will be exhibiting at the International Whey Conference and then the PPMA show, alongside collaborative partners Au2mate, Lyras and Wafilin Systems. Stand D60

Sovereign Labelling Machines, founded over three decades ago in the UK, has grown into an internationally acclaimed leader in the bespoke design and manufacture of high-quality labelling and sleeving machinery. “The Sovereign Standard” is a benchmark of excellence that consistently exceeds industry norms. With a robust manufacturing infrastructure and a team of experienced professionals, Sovereign is a highly respected supplier to the dairy industry, particularly renowned for its milk bottle labelling solutions. At this year’s PPMA Show, we will be proudly exhibiting the range of weigh price labellers from Coop Bilanciai, which are widely used in the dairy industry. Please visit us at Stand G10 to see our range of machinery in action.

Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions

Macsa id UK

Macsa id UK will be highlighting a wide range of advanced coding and marking equipment at PPMA. Among the machines on show will be the high speed SPA2 Nano UV laser system, which offers high contrast, damage free operation, and clean and uniform marking making it ideal for a variety of delicate or difficult substrates including flexible packaging films. There will be live demonstrations of a conveyor mounted Macsa low cost idTIJ thermal inkjet printer. With significant ease of use and low maintenance benefits, the idTIJ is aimed at fast, high-resolution applications. Macsa’s affordable Spark small character laser coder and fibre laser coder for marking aluminium beverage cans will also be highlighted.  Stand E52

Machinery World Group

Leicestershire, UK-based food and dairy machinery suppliers Machinery World Group are inviting customers old and new to join it at Stand C64 at PPMA this year to celebrate 25 years of trading. It was founded in 1999 with the vision of providing customers with the best new and used machinery for their bespoke operational needs and budgets – and 25 years on, that ethos continues to underpin all aspects of the business. A comprehensive knowledge and catalogue of contacts enabled Machinery World to develop and build its website – one of the first companies to upload and offer customers a range of machinery options from across the globe – and it remains the market leader today. Stand C64

Endoline Automation

Endoline Automation, a pioneer in end-of-line machinery, will debut its cutting-edge 900 series Wet Paper Tape Case Sealing solution at the upcoming PPMA Show. The  solution comes with a semi-automatic random sealer, similar to the company’s flagship 714 Semi-machine, which will be on show at the PPMA Show. The wet paper technology will also be available across Endoline’s entire case sealing range of random and pre-set machinery in both fully and semi-automatic models. During the PPMA Show, Endoline experts will be on hand to demonstrate the system’s capabilities and discuss how it can integrate seamlessly into existing packaging operations. Stand D90

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To submit a news item for inclusion, please contact Suzanne Christiansen at suzanne@bellpublishing.com or Maddy Barron at maddy@bellpublishing.com.

• The BioSupPack project advances bio-based packaging from beer waste
• Global Cheesemaker invests in combi system
• Rodda’s Creamery invests in equipment
• Innovative paper bottle: ALPLA becomes the majority owner of Paboco
• SIG Group AG: Resilient third quarter revenue growth and margin performance
• Amcor and Saputo Dairy UK announce award-win for Cathedral City’s recycle-ready grated cheese packaging

The post Roundup: Packaging appeared first on Dairy Industries International.

Processing approximately 11-billion litres of dairy liquids annually and supplying fresh products to over 60 countries, size hasn’t deterred this cheese processor from staying true to their underlying values. Tasting, approving and signing every cheese batch to accompany these internal quality controls, several of their flagship processing plants now deploy the latest inspection and checkweighing technology from Fortress. Helping to ensure products are delivered to consumers and food service enterprises free of contaminants, as well as adhering to the latest international Weights and Measures regulations.

Being premium products, the ability to isolate each contamination event and reduce good product wastage was an attractive feature. Currently, five customised twin-lane Raptor ‘Combination’ systems are located between the upstream packaging area and the secondary case loading section in two of the company’s cheese processing plants. The innovative design has solved the immediate challenge of inspecting cheese products tightly spaced together.

Receiving sliced, blocked, shredded and soft cheeses directly from the upstream dual-head bagger and flow wrapping packaging machines, the integrated Fortress system starts with a cleverly engineered and compact curving conveyor. Designed to ensure optimal spacing between lanes, the conveyor also helps to avoid congestion by spacing product lanes out evenly as they are fed into the individual, lane-specific metal detector aperture and checkweighing belt.

“One of the greatest challenges when checkweighing in fast-paced packing lines is making sure there is sufficient pitch from one pack to the next so that only one pack is present on the weigh conveyor at a time. This will ensure that packages are not rejected as unstable weight readings,” explains Fortress Technology Europe’s checkweighing specialist Dan Shail.

Constructed to the highest food grade standards, the metal detector and checkweigher conveyor decks and belts are all designed to be easily removed from the machine for rapid deep sanitation and maintenance. In seconds, and without using tools, plant operators can unclip and disconnect the conveyor motor, sanitise it, and instantly restore tracking once the conveyor is clipped back into place.

Double inspection capacity…half the waste

The inspection machine consolidates a single metal detector uniquely divided into two compact apertures, plus two independent weight verification checkweighers. Each technology and lane have individual air blast reject mechanisms to isolate metal contaminants and weight rejects. This helps to reduce and minimise quality cheese products being wasted by over 50 percent.

As each lane, metal detector aperture, checkweigher and reject is programmed to run independently, interruptions are minimised during product switchovers or maintenance. Additionally, it is possible to run two different product lines, pack sizes or SKUs simultaneously on the adjacent conveyors.

Putting into context the significance of aperture size when inspecting cheese for metal contaminations, Dan expands: “Reducing aperture size is one of the most effective ways to increase metal detector sensitivity. The reason for this is sensitivity is measured at the geometric centre of the aperture. Making the ratio of the aperture to the size of the product an essential consideration.”

Metrological compliance

After inspecting the cheese packs for metal contaminants, good cheese packs – at 140 ppm per line – are fed into the Raptor digital checkweighing system. To comply with global Weights and Measures Regulations, in just milliseconds the in-motion, three-belt checkweigher weighs, analyses, captures and reports data simultaneously.

Replicating the reject motion of the metal detectors, air nozzles blast out-of-tolerance products off the line into lockable bins, requiring minimal intervention from operators. Sophisticated software adds full transparency, with an average weight mode making instant reject decisions and combining the batch statistical data from across both lanes.

Products that pass both inspection tests then move onto a merging conveyor, aligning and presenting the packs to an automated downstream case packing system.

Holding food safety to the highest standard

For a GFSI-certified business with a continuous-improvement mindset, best practice robustness is of utmost importance to this dairy firm. The processing plant is equally dependent on automated and intelligent machinery to extract data for traceability and to support immediate quality control decision-making and production improvements.

Both the metal detector and checkweigher assist on all levels by capturing easy-to-read live OEE data. “By gathering live production information from each lane independently, a fast-paced food facility can establish the operational parameters and extract statistics that are most valuable to them,” notes Dan. Analysed data can include volume, weight, inspection rates, rejects and downtime.

For optimal reporting efficiency and to assist with transparency, the combi system features data logging and can also be connected to Fortress Technology’s Contact 4.0 software. Auditor-friendly, data reports can be exported as either PDF or Excel files covering a specific production line and/or time period. “Rather than monitoring machine performance manually, this level of cohesive reporting on a dual-lane system provides valuable OEE data to help boost operational efficiencies,” ends Dan.

The post Global Cheesemaker invests in combi system appeared first on Dairy Industries International.

To submit a news item for inclusion, please contact Suzanne Christiansen at suzanne@bellpublishing.com or Maddy Barron at maddy@bellpublishing.com.

• Mettler-Toledo unveils Enhanced ProdX data management software for food manufacturers 
• Lyras expands operations with the announcement of its first UK partner, Sycamore
• Atlas Copco introduces next-generation vacuum pumps
• Tetra Pak launches future food research hub with Lund University
• Fortress Technology expands global reach

The post Roundup: Dairy Processing appeared first on Dairy Industries International.

Operating out of the UK, Canada and Brazil, this latest acquisition means Fortress can now fully support food processors throughout Oceania and APAC.

Founded in 1998, Dynamic Inspection remains the only manufacturer of in-line food grade metal detectors in New Zealand.  Specialising in safeguarding dairy and food processing lines, Dynamic Inspection has been affiliated to Fortress since its inception. The two companies share decades of design and application experience.

Customers in New Zealand, Australia and Asia Pacific will now benefit from both companies’ respective and innovative expertise. In turn, strengthening and advancing food safety programs worldwide.

A major benefit of this acquisition will be the improved level of support Fortress can provide to existing and future customers, distributors and agents. Having a manufacturing facility in close proximity to customers presents endless benefits, including prompt delivery, transport cost savings and faster access to service support.

Based in Cambridge with additional sales and service engineers located in Auckland and Christchurch, Dynamic Inspection found success supplying metal detectors, x-ray and checkweighing equipment for dairy lines, specifically milk powder inspection. However, their reach is not limited to dairy applications, with the team supplying machinery and support to the entire international food industry.  

Fortress will continue to share the latest advancements in inspection technology to New Zealand, enabling local engineers to adopt identical manufacturing processes. Additionally, the Dynamic team will have direct access to the Fortress teams’ extensive R&D and global food safety intel. “Regardless of where customers purchase our inspection technologies, they will look the same, and deliver the same food safety quality control, inspection performance and processing efficiencies,” confirms Eric Garr, regional sales manager at Fortress Technology.

“The transition to Fortress now enables us to recruit more experts and expand our manufacturing hub in New Zealand, as well as our business reach. Exciting new products and services will follow,” add Dynamic co-founders Bob Philpott and Steve Atkins.

The acquisition of Dynamic Inspection was ratified on 6 October 2023. 

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Receiving shredded cheese pouches directly from a dual head bagger, the bold design unlocks substantial space and cost savings for the busy dairy plant.

Offering a customised solution, the twin lane conveyor configuration, consolidates a single Fortress metal detector divided into two apertures and two independent weight verification Raptor checkweighers for optimised quality control. Each technology and lane has its own air blast reject mechanism to isolate metal contaminants and weight rejects, helping to minimise good product being wasted by over 50%.  Measuring just 10ft in length, Fortress also integrated a radius conveyor into the metal detector infeed.

For the producer of global cheese brands, compromising on metal detection sensitivity was not an option. Highlighting the benefits of the multi-aperture metal detector concept, European commercial manager, Jodie Curry expanded, “The high-spec Fortress multi-aperture system was engineered specifically to ensure that that there was no trade-off in terms of performance and metal detection sensitivity. One of the key benefits of a twin aperture system is the halving of waste caused by rejects.”

The dual-lane version of Fortress Technology’s multi-aperture metal detector comprises a single unit split into two smaller dedicated apertures for each lane that act as independent metal detectors. For optimal metal detection sensitivity the two compact apertures – measuring just 102mm in height by 254mm wide – means that the packs pass individually right through the centre point of the metal detector.

“With output per hour being such a critical productivity benchmark, this game-changing multi-aperture design facilitates high speed and accurate metal detection and marks a step change for lean manufacturers seeking to reduce factory footprint and improve Total Cost of Ownership (TCO),” noted Jodie.

Fully integrated with the dairy plants’ upstream and downstream equipment and matching the 120-140 ppm output speed of the dual head VFFS bagging system, the compact geometry of the customised radius conveyor, facilitates the positioning and orientation of product packs as they round the corner towards the metal detector. Providing optimal spacing between product packs as they are presented to each metal detector aperture helps to avoid congestion, bottlenecks and flexible packaging formats overlapping which could lead to sensitive weight verification checks being distorted.

As each lane is programmed to run independently, the bespoke design helps to minimise interruption to the packing process during product switchovers or if one lane stops working or requires maintenance. Additionally, the unique design gives the plant extra inspection and weight verification capacity, as two different product lines, pack sizes or SKUs can be run simultaneously adjacent to each other.

Air blast nozzles located between the two outfeed conveyors efficiently and independently remove contaminated product into lockable reject bins equipped with reject confirmation and bin full sensors. With heavier products, Fortress would typically suggest using a pusher, drop conveyor or retracting belt mechanism.

Using compatible collective parts, the inaugural integration of the new Raptor Checkweigher marks a milestone for the inspection specialist. Delivering dynamic weight monitoring with minimal customisations to existing product feed and packing lines, the hygienic dual lane design also targets operational inefficiencies, notably upstream product giveaway, non-conforming food packs and packaging waste.

To ensure absolute traceability and compliance with retailer Codes of Practice and QA protocols, both the metal detector and Raptor checkweigher capture easy to read live OEE data. Enabling the dairy group to establish the operational parameters and extract statistics most valuable to their business, for instance volume, weight, inspection speed, rejects or downtime.

Equipped with Contact Reporter software, the dairy plant has the facility to export and convert time-stamped production data. “This level of cohesive reporting on a multi-lane system provides valuable upstream trend feedback to boost operational efficiencies,” noted Jodie.

Constructed to the highest food grade standards, the modular 200mm wide conveyor assembly, conveyor decks and belts are all designed to be easily removed from the machine for rapid deep sanitation and maintenance. Operatives simply unclip and disconnect the conveyor motor. In just seconds, the conveyor belt is removed, and the belt tension and tracking is instantly restored when clipped back into place. All without using a single tool.

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