A U G U S T The 2 2 , importance 2 0 1 9 of water / steam quality assurance and control in the food and drink processing sector .
Water supply and quality is of paramount importance to the food and beverage processing industry . Water and steam are used in many direct food contact applications . They can be used as a raw ingredient , by direct injection , and for temperature control .
Quality control , HS & E and plant integrity all rely on a water / steam supply that is consistent , safe and conforming to industry standard . The consequences of inadequate water quality can have significant effects , not only on quality and food safety , but also on the longevity of plant and efficiency of the process . Effective process design is essential , and to a large extent the process determines product safety and quality . The design also has a direct impact on plant lifecycle and optimisation .
Poor design can be both financially and reputationally damaging , especially if the consequence is an inferior product . It is in everyone ’ s interest to ensure quality and process efficiency are maintained .
" The only way to truly verify water or steam quality is the use of ‘ realtime ’ continuous measurement ."
Many conventional systems verify water and steam quality by grab-sampling , followed by laboratory tests . This can be both time consuming and resource intensive and is always
retrospective . Crucially , this is merely a ‘ snapshot ’ of the process and does not give continuous measurement of the process condition . This could mean an anomaly could be missed and time will elapse between non-conformance and corrective action .
The only way to truly verify water or steam quality is the use of ‘ real-time ’ continuous measurement . This can be achieved through a well-maintained control system , in conjunction with high accuracy steam and water analysis system ( SWAS ). Installation of SWAS will give you real-time , continuous measurement to ensure your process is controlled within specification to ensure reliable and repeatable production , reduced waste , less downtime and ultimately increased consumer confidence in the product .
Bradford based engineering consultants IMA Limited have been partners with German based SWAS manufacturer Dr Thiedig GmbH & Co KG for several years offering , consultation and procurement services for the Oil and Energy sector . This could be anything from initial application suitability consultation to lifecycle and project management . We are excitedly extending this knowledge base and technology into the food and drinks production sector . For an obligation free consultation on how we can help to improve your process efficiency through better measurement and control , please contact us on info @ ima . co . uk , phone 01943 878877 or visit our webpage on www . ima . co . uk