Page 34 - Food & Drink Magazine March 2021

PACKAGING & LABELLING
Weighty matters
Weighing is an essential component, if not the heart, of any process line. Heat and Control’s business team manager packaging Robert Marguccio writes about four key things that count when weighing.
WEIGHING is a crucial part of any food or beverage production line. With this equipment it is imperative that performance and reliability remains at optimal levels, in order to protect brand names, reputation and ensure product quality while optimising profitability.
Ishida built the very first multihead weigher in the early 70s, and it was designed to weigh whole capsicums. Since then, there have been many technical developments and learnings that have led to this equipment being able to portion out faster and more accurately, while also taking into consideration the specific characteristics of each product.
In consideration of computer combination weighing (CCW), i.e. multihead weighing, these four important factors need to be considered when weighing anything from food and non-food consumer goods to pharmaceutical products.
1ACCURATE
EFFICIENCY
Multihead weighing technology
has advanced significantly, offering greater accuracy and efficiency due to software improvements, faster digital filtering, anti-floor vibration, faster processing, and precise feeder control.
Some models also offer auto adjust feeder controls that remove the need for operator intervention in system optimisation. These Control systems provide optimal product feeding and external vibration control for more accurate weighing.
New algorithms can calculate three optimal weight combinations, double-check them, and then select the one nearest to the target weight all in a single cycle, minimising error discharges, increasing efficiency, while also enhancing weighing accuracy and consistency. Fast data transmission now enables the weigher to respond more quickly to control inputs, while enhanced automatic filters and faster filtering of the weigh signal from the load cells speeds up stabilisation.
ABOVE: Do you want fries with that? Burger patties and the Ishida multi-head weigher.
LEFT: Eat your greens. Beans and pre-mixed frozen vegetables being processed.
OPPOSITE PAGE ABOVE: Pass the dip. Potato chips on the multi-head weigher.
OPPOSITE PAGE BELOW: Note it down. The multi-head weigher has greater accuracy and efficiency that earlier models.
34 | Food&Drink business | March 2021 | www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au