Electricity and Control November 2023

SENSORS + SWITCHES

are in the advantages that ifm track and trace solutions deliver.

of food products, reducing foodborne illnesses and food waste. Continuously monitoring environmental factors like temperature and humidity throughout the transportation and storage of food can also assist in reducing spoilage and prolonging the shelf-life of the products. This, in turn, minimises the amount of food that goes to waste. Supply chain optimisation Efficient supply chains are crucial for delivering food from farm to table. Ifm’s sensors are used to track and monitor goods throughout the supply chain. This technology enables better inventory management, reduces spoilage, and ensures that food products reach consumers in optimal condition. The ifm track and trace gate offers a complete solution for automated and transparent logistics for incoming and outgoing goods. By directly transferring all goods flows to the IT level, users can organise the interlocking of production, inventory, and suppliers more efficiently than before. The cost saving comes on top of this: goods that are not picked properly generate consequential errors. With digital transparency, such errors can be avoided, the process speed, especially in order throughput time, can be increased and thus the quality of order fulfilment can be improved. This relieves internal resources and increases customer satisfaction. Some call it Logistics 4.0, or Smart Distribution. The decisive factors

IIoT integration Ifm’s sensors and software solutions play a pivotal role in advancing the food industry. With IO-Link technology, the sensors enable real-time data collection and monitoring. This helps ensure food safety and quality by facilitating quality control and predictive maintenance. Additionally, by implementing IIoT software solutions such as ifm’s Moneo, production efficiency can be improved, waste minimised, and productivity increased, while ensuring strict industry regulations are followed. The data collected from the sen sors can be integrated into farm management systems. Farmers can access the data remotely via smartphones or computers, so they can make timely decisions and adjust ments in their farming practices. Sensor technology serving the agricultural and food sectors is constantly evolving. Ifm’s cutting-edge sensor technology offers food manufacturers an opportunity to secure a competitive edge, diminish their environmental footprint, and actively participate in building a more sus tainable industry – supporting the initiatives and goals of World Food Day. □

For more information visit: www.ifm.com