A high-speed tray packing line, multi-head weighing solutions for fresh, sticky products, an entry level X-ray inspection system and the latest check-weigher developments are the major packing line solutions that Ishida Europe will be demonstrating at Foodex, showcasing the company’s expertise in automation, product weighing and handling, safety and QC systems.
Integrated weighing and tray sealing systems
The integrated weighing and tray sealing system enables both fresh and frozen products to be handled with excellent line efficiency. Output is up to 120 trays/min, with minimal waste.
The system combines Ishida’s high-speed RS-216 multi-head weigher with the company’s award-winning QX-1100 tray sealer. The RS-216 delivers products in accurate and consistent portions to a sophisticated tray tracking and filling system, which deposits the portions neatly into the trays. The filled trays are then sealed by the QX-1100 tray sealer, which features double-track configuration and the use of servo motors to ensure maximum efficiency. In addition, sealing can be carried out with an inside cut profile to enhance pack presentation.
Further benefits of the line are low manpower and maintenance requirements, and close-to-zero downtime levels.
Screw-feeder weighers
The Ishida CCW-R-214W-S/15 screw-feeder weigher allows — for the first time — the fully automatic, accurate and consistent weighing of fresh sticky products, such as meat, poultry, fish and seafood. The Ishida screw-feed design utilises the familiar circular multi-head weigher layout but incorporates unique rotating corkscrews to replace the traditionally used radial feed troughs. The use of these screws provides a powerful, controlled and fully automatic product feed to the pool and weigh hoppers.
The 214W-S/15 model incorporates 1.5l pneumatic-driven plastic scraper hoppers with a maximum speed of 60wpm.
Fresh food weighers
The Ishida CCW-NZ-106 fresh food weigher provides another alternative to the handling and weighing of sticky products. It features a linear multi-head design, fed by belts from an in-feed table. Two operators are then stationed within comfortable reach of the product in-feed, and adjust the flow of product so that each pool hopper receives a roughly equal amount.
Directly beneath the pool hoppers are the weigh hoppers and below these booster hoppers, which hold product not initially selected by the computer. This frees up the weigh hoppers to accept more product and means that in calculating the best combination of hoppers whose combined weight comes closest to the target weight, the machine’s computer has more combinations to choose from, enabling it to be faster and even more accurate.
Check-weighers and data-capture systems
As well as its DACS-W-012 check-weigher, Ishida will also be demonstrating its recently launched data-capture system (IDCS). The system, which can link up to 100 Ishida check-weighers, is a user-friendly, secure software program that offers an extensive range of reporting options to enable production managers to employ state-of-the-art monitoring for legislative compliance while also identifying cost-saving opportunities, minimising product giveaway and improving production efficiencies.
Food X-ray inspection systems
The Ishida IX-EA-2161 is an entry-level version of the company’s market-leading X-ray inspection system, offering food manufacturers an affordable solution for maximum quality control in their packing operations. The new model has been designed to inspect products such as thermoform and top-seal trays with a powerful X-ray that enables the machine to offer higher detection levels than a standard metal detector, checking products for a much wider range of foreign bodies.
Operating at belt speeds of up to 60m/min, the IX-EA 2161 is able to easily pick up a 0.7mm diameter metal piece, while other contaminants that can be detected include glass, stone, rubber and plastic.
