Producing perishable foodstuffs hygienically

By Dieter Conzelmann

The checkweigher CWP Neptune weighs and sorts unpackaged foodstuffs, is perfectly suited to the requirements for perishable foodstuffs thanks to its hygienic ergonomics, and lowers operation costs to a minimum through the reduction in components and parts subject to wear. The software _statistics.BRAIN is not only able to perform perfect weight and quality checks, but also provides insights into the production process through detailed logging.

When foodstuff producers dispense with preservatives during production, the danger that products become contaminated with bacteria increases. The solution here must lie in designing all machines which come into contact with perishable foodstuffs ergonomically and in such a way that the bacteria are not allowed for and that they are easy to clean.

CWP Neptune

The Bizerba CWP Neptune checkweigher is designed to weigh and sort unpackaged and perishable foodstuffs, such as minced meat. It has been designed in compliance with the hygienic design criteria of the European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group (EHEDG) and only requires the use of one single drive belt. "The belt is the widest part of the system," explains Dieter Conzelmann, Director of Industry Solutions at Bizerba. "Should parts of the product fall off the belt, they cannot finish up either in another part of the machinery, or back in the product stream. The weighing cell is also tightly welded.

Intelligent and ergonomic

The system can be cleaned with pressured water and the drive belt can be disassembled quickly and easily. "In the unpackaged foodstuffs sector," Conzelmann continues, "our competitors offer checkweighers with single motorised conveyors, so already at the transitions from feeding belt, weighing belt and discharge belt, there can be hygiene problems. In these areas, parts of the foodstuff fall from the belt drive and collect in hard-to-reach parts of the system. Therefore, with the CWP Neptune, we have deliberately reduced the number of single components."

If nothing else, this reduction in component parts makes the operation of the system more economical for the user. "The system only has one single motor and does not have any driving rollers or deflection rollers. Cleaning cycles can therefore be kept short, the operating costs reduced to a minimum thanks to less parts subject to wear and a high level of availability be secured," says Conzelmann.    

In production the CWE checkweigher prevents incorrect weight packages from getting into circulation. It weighs and classifies according to freely defined or statutory weight categories and automatically rejects incorrect weight packages from the production line. The monitoring of the control scales is very simple. All important information on the controlling of a process are graphically illustrated on a colour display.

Facilitates transparent business operations: _statistics.BRAIN

Production management can centrally evaluate this data and produce long-term statistics using _statistics.BRAIN. Filling quantity checking and process control from incoming goods to outgoing goods can be guaranteed using this software. It provides statistics on materials, machinery, batches, shifts and alarms over freely selectable periods of time. It supplies weight and attribute tests, controls process and production procedures and creates an insight into the production process thanks to detailed logging. With impermissible deviations the responsible member of staff on site can directly intervene in the production process, improve it and reduce unpleasant extra work as well as the share of rejects.

Data logs are automatically saved in accordance with the EU ordinance 178/2002 on traceability of goods. This seamless documentation of quality attributes makes the CWE into an ideal quality assurance tool for industry and retail, according to Conzelmann. "In the long-term no company can afford a loss of image as a result of poor product quality or lost profits due to a high proportion of give-aways. The consistent improvement of processes reduces expensive overfilling, extra work and rejects. The investment also pays off accordingly quickly."

Biography

Dieter Conzelmann, Director Industry Solutions at Bizerba, is responsible for the global product and application management for the industrial systems