Page 32 - Food&Drink magazine July 2021

INDUSTRY 4.0
Adapt, update and innovate
As one of the world’s largest manufacturers of industrial processing, conveying, weighing, packaging and inspection systems, Heat and Control is at the forefront on adopting and adapting Industry 4.0 changes.
QHow is Heat and Control equipment adapting to Industry 4.0?
Most of our equipment has programmable controllers that allow connection to plant
MES or data acquisition systems and can be remotely accessed for commissioning and customer support. The continued evolvement
of machine and device level networks means more data is available, as well as providing the end user with the capability to store, recover and analyse the accumulated data.
QWhat are the main benefits of data integration and process monitoring?
Industry 4.0 has seen a renewed focus on innovation and is transforming how the food industry operates.
Intelligent factories are seeking to optimise their processes to adopt lean manufacturing principles.
Heat and Control has long held the philosophy of continuously improving our machine designs through ongoing R&D investment, so that we can provide customers with solutions to improve their operations through automation and efficiency.
Every processor wants to identify and classify hidden issues in their production flow before a problem arises. Data
integration and process monitoring are beneficial by facilitating the collection and retention of important production data and creating a database of vital information on the production run.
As a single source supplier, we add value through increased connectivity levels and digital data exchange, at all stages of the processing and packaging production line. For example, integrated product handling and processing lines for potato processors benefit from custom made fryers, heat exchangers and oil filtration systems, which integrate with our FastBack Conveyors to deliver product at twice the rate of
comparable conveyors for high-speed production.
Q
Understanding the importance of frying during the processing stage, and ways to automate and simplify frying control have long been a priority.
Heat and Control fryers have automation control which uses feedback from a moisture meter after the fryer, to control frying temperature and dwell time to meet moisture targets. This improves the quality of the final product, increases the shelf life, and ensures the product is the right size, shape and texture.
The frying parameters can be monitored remotely, giving the operator flexibility in how they manage the fryer. Waste can be monitored at key gateposts in the production line by using product weighing systems to control throughput to optimise the whole-of-line performance.
Some heat exchangers can be fitted with O2 sensing to automatically regulate combustion levels to save fuel and reduce emissions while ensuring continuous efficiency.
With more competition than ever in the food processing industry, especially snack, traditional manufacturing methods will continue to make way for innovation and lean manufacture.
Staying with potato
processing, what’s the “next big thing” for the industry? Innovation in processing equipment is seeing certain elements of the production line streamlined or eliminated altogether, while process monitoring, and data integration will continue to evolve at a rapid pace.
32 | Food&Drink business | July 2021 | www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au