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Safety, cleanliness
and sensors
Automation in food and beverage production
It is well known that the food industry places particularly high demands on sensor technology. In industrial plants, systems are cleaned at regular intervals with partially aggressive agents in accordance with the relevant strict hygiene regulations. Disassembly of the electronic components is usually out of the question for economic and practical reasons. Therefore, the devices must have a robust sealing principle and be constructed of food-safe materials in order to reliably withstand the aggressive cleaning processes.
Sensors make the difference – dairy automation
Perhaps milk really does cheer up tired chaps as a well-known German advertising slogan proclaims. But one thing that is certain is that its production creates a lot of work. Due to the wet nature of the product, steam and time constraints, working conditions in dairies are a real test for man and machine. Sensors, nevertheless, have to work precisely, as they supply the data for the material flow in automated production processes and intralogistics.
As a basic raw material for dairies, fresh and untreated milk has only a limited shelf life. Temperatures of between +2 and +8 °C must be maintained throughout the cold chain - from the dairy farmer to the supermarket. The systems are repeatedly cleaned both thermally and chemically between the individual production steps.
Cleaning involves the use of corrosive chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide. The sensitive measuring technology of the sensors must therefore be protected by robust housings against damage. The moisture generated during the pasteurisation of milk also makes it difficult for sensors to detect objects. This is only achieved if the models provide a high level of tightness. The bottom line is that dairies need high-quality and robust sensors.
Reason enough to employ outstanding sensors.”
HACCP and IP 65 – focus on the meat industry
In meat processing plants, systems are cleaned at regular intervals, in some cases with aggressive media, in accordance with the HACCP hygiene regulations. Disassembly of the electronic components is out of the question for economic and practical reasons.
Therefore, these components must have a robust sealing principle and be constructed of food-safe materials in order to reliably withstand the aggressive cleaning processes. At autosen, protection ratings IP65/IP67/IP68/IP69K are standard for photoelectric sensors with a stainless steel housing for wet zones and the food industry.
Beverage and brewing industry
Valensina can bottle up to 500,000 litres of premium quality fruit juice daily across five lines at its plant in Mönchengladbach. Hygiene is the top priority throughout the entire production process.
With an output of almost 50,000 hectolitres, Westheim is one of the largest medium-sized private breweries in Germany. In matters of hygiene and process reliability, however, industrial standards prevail.
A lot of manual work but also modern automation technology ensure the cocktail manufacturer can meet the growing demand for its tasty drinks in the long term.
