Marking another checkweighing milestone , Fortress Technology Europe launched its new inline portion-control Raptor checkweigher at PPMA 2023 . A slim-line ergonomic checkweighing machine is now also available
“ Checking in ” with Fortress
Marking another checkweighing milestone , Fortress Technology Europe launched its new inline portion-control Raptor checkweigher at PPMA 2023 . A slim-line ergonomic checkweighing machine is now also available
Sharing the company ’ s extensive knowledge on international net weight verification rules that govern food checkweighing , Fortress explores the ‘ compliance essentials ’ that can protect brand integrity while simultaneously lowering operational costs .
Efficient weight control and checkweighing systems are integral to meeting consumer expectations . In addition to inspecting under and overweight packages and ensuring compliance with net content regulations , deploying smart checkweighers inline and at the end of food processing lines can provide a source of untapped Quality Assurance , waste reduction and brand protection .
Product giveaway is the longaccepted outcome of observing weight legislation rules . However , when food manufacturers overfill packaging to avoid falling foul of international and domestic weight legislations , it can lead to a considerable profit losses . Even nominal overfilling can add up . In a new Whitepaper published by Fortress Technology , European Applications Engineer Daniel Shail examines the risks versus regulations and delves into the pitfalls of non-conformance .
COST OF CUTTING CHECKWEIGHING CORNERS
Global weight regulations are in place to protect consumers against short measures . The cost if caught selling underweight packaged food products can lead to penalty fines ranging from several hundred , to thousands of pounds . In regions where the rules are even stricter , knowingly distributing underweight products could be deemed fraud .
50 FDPP - www . fdpp . co . uk
The Raptor weight sensors reset rapidly , allowing for instant and precise weight checks of individual packs in real-time .
The picture could be even worse for a multi-national food company with global reach . A widespread recall could rise to several million pounds if withdrawing an entire batch of underweight processed and packaged products .
Longer term brand image also needs to be considered . A social media report can rapidly spiral , leading to potentially serious consequences if a recall is not acted upon swiftly . The resulting impact can be highly detrimental . Consumer research by Harris Interactive reports that 55 percent of people would switch brands temporarily following a product recall , while 15 percent said they would not purchase that brand from the manufacturer again . A recall of this scale is often avoidable if food defences are robust and risks are regularly reviewed .
AVERAGE WEIGHT RULES
To avoid issues with weight legislation it is common practice for food plants to overfill . Yet , given the cost of ingredients , food commodities , and packaging , combined with the current cost of living crisis , overfilling is no longer considered a good or sustainable business practice .
In order to cut down on product waste and lost profits , it is advisable for food processors to familiarise themselves with the weight legislation requirements for any region where their products are sold or exported to . The rules in Europe , Canada , and the U . S . are quite aligned , although subtle differences do exist .
Typically , global weight regulations follow three general rules :
• The average weight of a product batch must not be below the