42 Food & drink processing
Mixing of instant coffee/cappuccino with chocolate chips LiMs retal solution for
M
ixing of instant coffee/cappuccino an impressive mixing capacity.
food testing labs
with chocolate chips and other types The size of the mixers vary from small
of instant coffee mixes with flavours is a test units of 2, 6, 20 or 60 litres and the
Q
Ts Analytical, of east Malling, kent, a
contract laboratory that measures
difficult application due to the variances in production mixers can be from 120 litres
pesticide residues in fruit, vegetables and
bulk density and particle sizes. up to 10 000 litres per batch. The filling
other foodstuffs, has enhanced the
The mixing action in the Forberg twin level of the mixers can vary from 40 per
organisation's contract laboratory's customer
shaft batch mixers, the cent up to 140 per cent of
service by utilising Qsi's WinLims rental
very high accuracy in the nominal filling level,
solution for contract laboratories.
mixing and the extreme which means that the
The ‘out of the box' LiMs rental solution
gentleness are some of the mixers are not very
has helped QTs Analytical to boost efficiency
reasons for using the sensitive to the filling level
and improve accuracy of its laboratory
Forberg batch mixers in – but still maintain the
information management procedures.
producing these high accuracy in mixing
QTs Analytical's contract laboratory
challenging recipes. small with a cV of 5 or less. The
service, which is aimed at organisations
portion packs require high finish of the mixers is high
throughout the fruit and vegetable supply
accuracy in mixing. and they are produced
chain – growers, wholesalers and retailers,
The various ingredients according to the 3-A
tests for pesticides in a variety of areas
are weighed into a pre-bin above the sanitary standards 73-00. Low
including fresh produce, soils, water and
mixer and are thereafter filled into the investment costs and minor power
environmental analysis. potential QTs
mixer through an opening in the top. The consumption makes these mixers very
customers include any company importing or
mixing action itself only lasts for cost efficient and the maintenance of the
growing fruit and vegetables.
maximum 60 seconds (normal mixing mixers are minimal. p
The QTs laboratory has UkAs
time from 30 to 60 seconds) and then the
enter 42 or ✔ at www.scientistlive.com/efood
accreditation for its pesticide residue analysis,
product is discharged into a bin. The total
covering a wide range of pesticides in fruit,
cycle time is less than two minutes, which Forberg international As is based in
vegetables and tea leaves. The company also
means that relatively small mixers have Larvik, norway. www.forberg.no
participates in the internationally recognised
FApAs proficiency scheme.
Fast turn-around times are vital for most
Automated case handling solution improves efficiency
contract laboratories and QTs is no exception.
Although the standard turnaround time for
T
he processing line is not the only area below the bottom of the belt. When the QTs is five days the company also offers an
of food processing plants where rollers in the belt are activated, the industry-leading 12 hour emergency turn-
conveyance solutions are critical. The back conveyed article moves at an angle, in the around on residue testing.
of the plant, where packaging and case direction of the roller spin (while moving To achieve such demanding turn-around
conveyance occurs, also requires a forward). targets, speed and accuracy of reporting are
conveyance Benefits of ArB crucial factors that have been greatly
application that will include reduction in improved with the advent of the WinLims
facilitate operational equipment rental package. Before the Qsi solution was
efficiency. manufacturing costs, introduced the largely manual reporting
proven successful reduction in labour process was a major bottleneck. At peak
at improving costs needed to times, staff sometimes had to work unsocial
productivity, correct line stops and hours to keep up, and the administrative load
eliminating clear case jams, also introduced invoicing delays.
unnecessary costs, and reducing extended equipment life, smaller "We have benefited considerably from
operational expenses, intralox’s Activated footprint, and elimination of belt WinLims rental's reporting capabilities – our
roller Belt (ArB) technology provides a mistracking. reports vary greatly in format dependent on
smart, automated method for directing Flexible, reliable, and safe, ArB has the type of testing being carried out for each
the movement of conveyed articles. been proven successful in a diverse range customer. WinLims was able to cater for this
While regular belts only convey of case handling applications, including requirement straight from the box and as
products, intralox’s ArB technology singulation, sortation, switching, such has made significant time savings, seven
enables the belt to act on the product 90-degree transfers, and merging. p hours per week if not more," explained QTs
being conveyed. Belts featuring this Analytical's founder steve gardner. p
enter 42A or ✔ at www.scientistlive.com/efood
technology typically have built-in rollers,
which are often set at an angle to the Lid group is based in Harahan, Louisiana, For more information, visit.www.
belt’s direction of travel and extend UsA. www.intralox.com qtsanalytical.com
www.scientistlive.com
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52