Industrial scale for efficient weighing in the confectionery factory

Details: Released: 07.12.2020; Last updated: 21.07.2023; Hits: 6468

Because the worldwide consumption of confectionery is constantly growing, manufacturers of chocolate and other products have to set up their production facilities quickly, flexibly, economically and safely so that they can remain competitive. A powerful, ultra-modern Industrial scale and Inspection solution from Minebea Intec can help to increase efficiency in the confectionery industry.

Content of the technical article

Consumer behavior influences the confectionery industry
Optimize production with industrial scales and inspection systems
Recognize potential savings with intuitive software
- Reliably detect contamination
First class service included

This year, according to forecasts, sales of sweets worldwide will amount to around 732 million euros. According to recent studies, the Confectionery consumption per capita an average of around 16 kg per year. They predict annual growth rates of up to 2025% through 4,3.

Relatively quickly growing confectionery market is accordingly highly competitive and is reflected in a high level of consolidation. While Ferrero, Mars, Mondelez International, Nestlè and Hershey grow, smaller manufacturers find it difficult to maintain their competitiveness. In order not to lose ground in the competition, the confectionery manufacturers have to keep their production systems constantly up to date.

Consumer behavior influences the confectionery industry

Consumer behavior and the resulting trends have significant consequences for the manufacturing processes in the confectionery industry. There has been a strong growth among consumers for some time environmental awareness to observe. This requires a rethink with regard to industrial packaging.

Light grids pass practical tests at Coppenrath & Wiese

Metal and Plastic are increasingly being replaced by cardboard. Packaging made from a mix of materials such as cardboard boxes with integrated plastic viewing windows is still common today, but it is becoming less common. Ideally, there is no or very little packaging waste left behind with confectionery, which is also easily recyclable.

The production of special seasonal products such as Christmas and Easter holidays places high demands on the Flexibility of the systems. In addition, there are product changes when the range is expanded. In addition, consumers particularly regard chocolate as a luxury product and attach great importance to aesthetics and perfection. All of these trends force manufacturers to invest in flexible processes with high throughput.

Optimize production with industrial scales and inspection systems

"For confectionery manufacturers, product diversity as well as processing and packaging quality are key factors for the success of their company in a highly competitive industry," says Nick parsons, Deputy CSO at Minebea Intec and u. a responsible for sales in this segment.

Confectionery manufacturers can only achieve the necessary productivity through efficient, flexible and fast processes. Minebea Intec offers powerful and flexible industrial scales and inspection solutions as well as process control systems for various production and packaging steps for industrial weighing. With the scales and peripheral devices, competitive solutions for the Process optimization create.

A good example of this are tailor-made systems. “We recently developed a weighing solution for very fast check weighing, with which small chocolate packs can be reliably weighed at a speed of up to 600 pieces per minute,” explains Nick Parsons.

Clutches and brakes Use in food technology

“In order to save space on the production line, the system also carries out another control, namely the Metal detection, by. And as far as space is concerned: Minebea Intec also offers tailor-made multi-lane industrial scale systems with telescopic separators for up to six lanes that meet all legal regulations and requirements for process weighing. They guarantee compliance with the weight specifications even at high production speeds and with little space. Wherever there is a need for scales, we will find a solution, "says the specialist.

Dynamic and static weighing as the key

Weighing processes are indispensable in the manufacture of confectionery and play a not insignificant role from incoming goods through raw material storage to the finished packaged product. The raw materials are temporarily stored on arrival. Here the delivery quantities are checked with industrial scales such as vehicle scales, flatbed scales and silo load cells from Minebea Intec.

"Our digital Inteco load cell in connection with the Converter Connexx is a good example of the constantly increasing digitization of weighing processes. Customers benefit from short signal transit times and optimum transparency when dosing and weighing ingredients and mixtures. Another plus point: If the measurement results are incorrect, a defective balance can be identified immediately, ”emphasizes Nick Parsons.

Industrial scale for containers in manufacturing plants

For the weighing of process containers and even mixing devices, Minebea Intec offers hygienic solutions at. Such industrial scales deliver precise measurement results even under the influence of lateral forces.

The newest Libra Novego is a good example of this. It is used in the construction of production systems for a wide variety of industries. Not least because the industrial scales are very easy to install thanks to the integrated height adjustment and inclination correction.

Industrial scales for spices and flavors

A reliable static and dynamic scale solution is also indispensable for high product quality in the following process steps in confectionery production. The industry Combics bench scale or the bench scale and floor scale Midrics are suitable e.g. B. for manufacturing processes using spices and flavors.

Hygiene-friendly drive technology for bakery technology

“The high-precision scales from Minebea Intec prove their great precision and reliability, especially in process steps that require precise dosing of color, flavor, or spices. This is the only way in terms of Taste and appearance Consistent quality of confectionery, ”says Nick Parsons. The results can be managed and evaluated within the scope of production monitoring using statistical process control and formulation solutions.

Industrial scale with tendency control

Highly accurate, flexible industrial scale solutions also offer the dynamic Checkweighers Flexus and Synus. With the trend control, they allow manufacturers to realize profitable combinations of different production systems.

A checkweigher with Tendency control ensures in the upstream filling, portioning or cutting machine that the defined target weight is reached as precisely as possible and kept constant.

“Especially with automated processes and large quantities, productivity can be increased significantly through the trend control. Slight fluctuations in cooling or heating temperature or duration can lead to weight deviations in individual products. Thanks to the tendency regulation, our check scales can react directly to such fluctuations and for example the Filling processes regulate accordingly, ”explains Nick Parsons.

Recognize potential savings with intuitive software

Confectionery manufacturers always strive to comply with legal regulations, improve product quality and increase efficiency. The SPC @ Enterprise software was developed for statistical process and prepackaging control. With their help, legal requirements can be complied with and savings potential can be identified and used.

The collected data from the entire production process can be statistically evaluated and, if necessary, suitable measures can be taken increase in efficiency initiate. With the SPC @ Enterprise software for industrial scales, production can be seamlessly documented and controlled.

“Our customers use the powerful software to increase efficiency and maintain a consistent Produktqualität. For this purpose, not only systems from Minebea Intec, but also other input devices can be connected. We also approve devices from other manufacturers - our priority is customer needs, "comments Nick Parsons. In the new relay from SPC @ Enterprise, extended functions such as status reports on checkweighers and metal detectors ensure even more transparency in the production process.

In confectionery production, the ingredients must be added in the desired, defined proportions. Therefor is a reliable one Recipe management necessary. Prorecipe XT is a recipe management system from Minebea Intec that controls manual and semi-automatic recipe processes in confectionery production. The software can be flexibly integrated into production systems and guarantees traceability. Users are extremely satisfied with the intuitive, user-friendly recipe monitoring and management.

Reliably detect contamination

Under no circumstances should foreign bodies get into chocolate, chewing gum, sweets etc. Recalls due to contamination result in high costs. The brand image is seriously damaged. Minebea Intec offers the Metal detectors Vistus and X-ray inspection system Dylight - two powerful, reliable inspection systems.

Compact expertise with Minebea Intec webinars

“The decision between metal detection and X-ray inspection often depends on the packing material off, ”explains Nick Parsons. “In the case of packaging with an aluminum seal, for example, a metal detector would not reliably detect contamination. In this case, an X-ray inspection system is a better choice. On the other hand, some metal detectors are not so suitable for products with changing product effects. Then it comes to inaccuracies in the detection, so that products in large quantities are wrongly classified as contaminated and eliminated. "

First class service included

Reliable device and system availability are important for confectionery manufacturers in order to minimize downtimes. The production of confectionery requires a large number of complex systems and devices along the entire process chain. Reliable maintenance of the system components in connection with short reaction times in the event of component failure ensures high productivity.

To be able to provide immediate support, Minebea Intec offers that Miremote service tool with AR technology. This means that users can access the manufacturer's support services at any time and from anywhere via smartphone or tablet.