'All-in-One' Inspection Solutions 

Antares Vision Group, +39 030-728-3500   

Antares Vision Group (AVG) recently introduced a new series of inspection machines that offer comprehensive, customizable packaging inspections for food and beverage applications. The company's All-in-One equipment portfolio incorporates multiple inspection controls into single machines, maximizing production space and labor efficiencies while also meeting manufacturers' quality control needs. The All-in-One models enable food and beverage companies to:

• Check for the presence of micro-holes in packaging: All-in-One models can incorporate an in-line system to detect micro-holes. This functionality is applicable to both trays and flow packs, and does not require changing line speed or composing gas for product conservation. Based on IR spectroscopy or gas sensors, the system selectively, quickly, and accurately identifies the presence of target molecules exiting the package, indicating a micro-hole. For precision micro-hole detection, it is possible to use CO₂ as the target molecule for products in modified atmosphere packaging, alcohol for the bakery sector, and common flavorings for certain other products.
• Check for the presence of foreign bodies: X-rays are used to detect fragments of glass, bone, metal, plastic, or stones that may have accidentally ended up in the product during the production process, or as raw materials leftovers.
• Check the product weight: Weight checks help avoid food waste, monitor and optimize production line efficiency, and comply with North American and EU regulations concerning product weight inspection.
• Check product seals: All-in-One machines can utilize hyperspectral technology to detect the presence of food in the seals of transparent, colored, and opaque packaging.
• Check labels and codes: The system prevents products with labeling errors (such as incorrect expiration date or lot code) or other incorrect information from reaching the market.

Other advantages of the All-in-One series include reduced machine dimensions (with a similar footprint as most standard checkweighers), a single user interface overseeing all inspection parameters, differentiated waste and automatic recipe settings, and reduced energy consumption. In addition, each machine in AVG's All-in-One series can be integrated into the company's Digital Factory software platform, which seamlessly connects all solutions to optimize production and monitor efficiency.

 antaresvision.com

Foreign Material Alert with AI 

Key Technology, +1 509-529-2161 

Key Technology recently introduced the new artificial intelligence (AI)-driven FM Alert software for its digital sorting systems. The AI tool captures and saves digital images of critical foreign material (FM) contaminants that the sorter detects and rejects from the product stream. Data outputs from the software can be utilized to immediately alert operators and send signals to a downstream device. As Key's sorters find and remove FM and a variety of user-specified defects, users can program FM Alert to act on specific types of critical FM such as glass, plastic, rubber, and wood. Additionally, FM Alert data outputs can be utilized to trigger a gate or diverter downstream of the sorter to segregate at-risk product, allowing an operator to confirm that the critical FM was physically removed from the product stream.

Complementing FM Alert, Key's Discovery software can be used to gain additional insight into the frequency and type of FM events. Discovery allows processors to use their Key sorters to collect, analyze, and share data about the sorting process and the objects that flow through the sorter. Information about the sorter's findings allows processors to recognize trends and correlations, enabling processors to eliminate root causes. The documentation supports quality assurance for the processor, as well as other stakeholders.

 key.net

Non-BPA Coating for Aluminum Beverage Cans 

PPG has announced its new product, PPG Innovel® PRO, an enhanced internal spray coating that uses no bisphenol-A (BPA) or bisphenol starting substances. PPG Innovel PRO provides robust application properties for recyclable aluminum beverage cans. PPG Innovel PRO is a next-generation, high-performance acrylic coating that expands on PPG Innovel's decade-long tenure as the market's most widely used non-BPA internal beverage spray coatings. The coating features a lower migration profile than standard epoxy and epoxy-mimic coatings, and all PPG Innovel internal spray coatings have achieved a Platinum CRADLE-TO-CRADLE® material health certification from the Cradle-to-Cradle Products Innovation Institute.    

packagingcoatings.com

Allergen Testing App 

Hygiena, 1-888-494-4362 

Although allergen testing has long been incorporated into standard operating procedures, allergen test results were traditionally reported in isolation, rather than as a component of a holistic cleaning verification and quality release process. Therefore, operators have been unable to easily incorporate allergen detection into their businesses' larger environmental monitoring database, hindering the ability to monitor process and cleaning control efficacy.

In light of these issues, Hygiena has launched its new EnSURE Touch Allergen App, which harmonizes the company's ATP cleaning and environmental monitoring system, EnSURE Touch, with its line of allergen tests, including: AlerTox^®, AllerFlow, and GlutenTox^® Pro. The Allergen App integrates with the handheld EnSURE Touch luminometer to incorporate allergen test results into overarching environmental test protocols and reporting for insight into production safety. Additionally, Hygiena's SureTrend^® Cloud data management system allows for customized report consolidation, trend analysis, proactive process correction, and robust audit preparation.

 hygiena.com

Clean-Label Solution for Preventing TAB Spoilage 

Gat Foods, +972 46-368-801

Resorcix Ltd., +972 02-5025-229 

Gat Foods, part of International Beer Breweries, Ltd. (IBBL), and Israeli startup Resorcix Ltd., have introduced FLAVORWATCH, a natural, botanical ingredient with the ability to prevent Thermophillic Acidophilic Bacteria (TAB) spoilage in clear, fruit-based beverages. FLAVORWATCH can maintain the flavor of a beverage throughout its shelf life while mitigating TAB spoilage.

TAB refers to a group of nonpathogenic microbes belonging to the Alicyclobacillus family and is common in still, ready-to-drink (RTD), non-alcoholic beverages. TAB is able to withstand pasteurization and can multiply rapidly in acidic environments. TAB originates from certain ingredients that are frequently used in beverage preparation, such as sugar, pectin, water, and fruit concentrate. TAB will multiply shortly following the bottling process, especially in warm weather. Good manufacturing practices can reduce TAB but cannot eliminate it entirely, necessitating periodic batch testing and isolation, which is costly, time-consuming, and not 100 percent effective. Indications of TAB spoilage in beverages include a hazy appearance, a clove-like smell, and a medicinal taste. Although nonpathogenic, the unpleasant results of TAB contamination typically lead to a large volume of customer complaints and can ultimately trigger a costly recall and damaged reputation.

FLAVORWATCH contains natural compounds with a proven bacteriolytic effect that disintegrate TAB cells in the germination phase. The product also prevents the bacteria from producing unpleasantly flavored and scented metabolites. FLAVORWATCH is based on a botanical oleoresin that naturally possesses anti-TAB spoilage properties. FLAVORWATCH is classified as a natural flavoring by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and the Israeli Ministry of Health. It is suitable for a variety of still, clear, RTD beverages, such as fruit beverages, fruit-infused water, and iced teas. The product is easy to use, cost effective, and can be added to beverage bases or syrups in the preparation phase or directly to the beverage tank before pasteurization.

 www.gatfoods.com

 www.resorcix.com 

‘Do Not Refreeze’ Label  

SpotSee, +1 800.846.2468   

SpotSee has released its ‘Do Not Refreeze’ label to ensure food quality and safety throughout the supply chain and within commercial food environments. Once food has gone through a freeze/thaw cycle, the quality and/or safety of food can be compromised if it is refrozen. After placing the ‘Do Not Refreeze’ label on the packaging, if the temperature drops below –15 °C/5 °F, the text turns dark blue and alerts handlers that the product cannot be frozen again.   

spotsee.io

Metal-Detectable Safety Knives  

MARTOR, +49 212.738.700   

The SECUMAX 150 MDP extends MARTOR’s family of metal-detectable safety knives. The knives remain detectable if lost—even the smallest parts—and, therefore, have no long-term adverse impacts on sensitive production processes. Weighing only 31 grams, the SECUMAX 150 MDP is made of plastic that is metal- and X-ray-detectable. The SECUMAX 150 MDP is also safe when cutting. Its concealed blade means that the sharp cutting edge never gets too close to either its user or the packaged goods. The outer blade area, used for scraping off labels and splitting adhesive tape, is also non-sharp.   

martor.com

Cloud-Based Sorting Machine

Anysort U.S.A., +1 916.372.2227   

Anysort U.S.A. is offering a new, cloud-based sorting machine with Hawk-Eye recognition technology and shape-sorting automation for in-shell walnuts and peanuts, the TK64. It is also showcasing an infrared color sorter with Hawk-Eye recognition technology for kernels of walnuts, pecans, almonds, and pistachios, the VR164+. The TK64 presents high-dimensional material fingerprint perception technology, high-definition image acquisition, and bud location analysis technology. The cloud-based VR164+ offers international advanced multi-spectral analysis technology, along with Hawk-Eye recognition technology and intelligent shape-sorting automation. The VR164+ can accurately recognize and remove plastic particles, glass, animal waste, insects, sunflower gum, and other malignant impurities.    

anysortusa.us