“500mm might not sound like a lot
of space, but it can be the difference
between a safe working space and one
that doesn’t meet requirements. Also,
if you equate it to the amount you are
paying per sq ft, it translates to a tangible
cost saving,” he adds.
Another way in which the Raptor
Combi system can offer space-saving
advantages over rival systems is through
the flexibility this platform offers. Whilst
Fortress manufactures a standard Raptor
system for customers wanting a short
lead-time system for handling products
up to 400mm in size and up to 8kg in
weight, it will also manufacture custom
systems for smaller products and spacerestricted
areas.
“A lot of our competitors will just produce
a standard system that can accommodate
any product up to 500mm. However, if
you are running a 250mm product, you
don’t need such a long system. In that
situation, we can engineer the system
down to 1.2m instead of supplying a
standard system that is 2m in length,”
says Brown.
One scenario where space-optimised
combi systems can really come into their
own is on labour-intensive ready meal
lines, where multiple components are
added manually. Here, where individual
working space can’t be maintained,
factories have had to install physical
screens to separate operators. Either
solution increases the line space required
to safely perform this operation, so
downstream equipment space savings are
needed to free up space.
DISTANCED DIAGNOSTICS
As well as creating a further driver for
more compact systems, the COVID-19
pandemic is accelerating adoption of
remote access functionality on inspection
equipment.
“Most modern metal detectors and
checkweighers have in-built remote
diagnostics but until now this function
has been under-utilised. However, recent
months have seen it taking on increasing
importance as companies seek to protect
staff and reduce travel and face-to-face
contact,” notes Brown.
There are several reasons for this shift
in behaviour. Some areas of the food
industry have faced unprecedented
demand in recent months as consumer
spending has shifted from the out of
home hospitality sector to retail grocery,
and supermarkets have grappled with
unpredictable purchasing behaviour and
patterns. Issues with equipment have had
to be resolved as quickly as possible, with
minimal disruption and person-to-person
contact. In these circumstances, remote
troubleshooting is the ideal solution,
and even if the issue cannot be resolved
remotely, it can serve as a first line
approach, arming engineers with valuable
information so that site visits can be as
brief as possible.
Now that companies have started to
realise the benefits of remote assistance,
Brown believes it is unlikely that the
industry will revert to a more traditional
face-to-face approach and that it will be a
focus for innovation in years to come.
Likewise, the food industry will continue
to demand inspection systems with
ever more compact dimensions. Whilst
technological progress will continue to
forge ahead in this area, there comes a
point when both physics and the need
to guarantee product quality place
limitations on reducing system size. It
is about finding that sweet spot, where
footprint, reliability and cost of ownership
can all be balanced.
www.fortresstechnology.com
FDPP - www.fdpp.co.uk 27