MechChem Africa November-December 2023

Innovative bottling and filling solutions OMRON is revolutionising bottling and filling with innovative automated and sustainable and smart packaging solutions that also increase production efficiency and product end quality.

D espite the economic disruptions of the past couple of years, the increasing demand for packaged products and a greater variety of products is continuing to rise. Manufacturers in the food and beverage in dustries are faced with the pressure of supplying the requisite product diversity while complying with the standards set out in The Foodstuffs, Disinfectants and Cosmetics Act (FDCA) 54 of 1972, updated in 2009, which controls the sale, manufacture, importation, and exportation of foodstuffs, including food packaging. Since the number of scannable SKUs (stock keeping units/barcodes) is growing, it is more crucial than ever to keep the changeover pro cess short and sweet. When companies struggle to find processes that efficiently accommodate changeovers, these changeovers take even lon ger than usual due to the fine-tuning required. For this reason, many manufacturers are looking to invest in machines that require little to no fine-tuning post-changeover. By minimising complexity and using machines with centrelines that are simple to understand, manufacturers can improve their systems’ performance even when new challenges arise. Automation and robotics Implementing automation and robotics tech nology can significantly increase the speed and accuracy of bottling and capping processes. This technology can reduce errors, increase productivity, and free up human workers for more complex tasks. Flexible manufacturing is essential for companies that produce many different products in varying combinations. Beverage packaging companies need equip ment that can dynamically switch between container and cap sizes and apply the correct labels to various items. A go-to solution for this need is to use a collaborative robot. Collaborative robots can easily be ‘taught’ new tasks or variations on tasks involving slightly different shapes or sizes. Guided by machine vision, these extremely flexible robots can recognise different product types and determine the appropriate next step. When combined with a mobile base, a collab orative robot can offer a fully modular material handling solution. Omron offers a range of industrial robots that are specifically designed for food and beverage bottling applications. These robots can perform tasks such as bottle handling, fill ing, and capping, reducing the need for human intervention and increasing efficiency.

Omron offers a comprehensive range of automation solutions that can improve productivity, efficiency, and quality in the food and beverage bottling market in South Africa.

Sustainable packaging and smart packaging The food and beverage sector can reduce its environmental impact by using sustainable packaging materials that are eco-friendly, bio degradable and recyclable. This approach can improve the brand's image and attract environ mentally conscious consumers. Incorporating smart packaging technology can provide real time information about the product's quality, freshness, and safety. This technology can help to ensure that the products remain safe and fresh during transportation and storage, in creasing consumer confidence. Packaging and bottling standards by the SABS were put in place to prevent foodborne illnesses through greater manufacturing and supply chain oversight. To ensure the proper hygienic conditions outlined in these standards, manufacturers must perform washdowns regu larly. This necessitates technologies that can withstand harsh chemicals and water pressure. One of the requirements is that manufacturers mustidentifytheimmediatesupplierandtheim mediate recipient – aside from the consumer in a retail situation – so that a product can be traced throughout the supply chain. This is prompting a greater investment in robust traceability systems to ensure compliance. Omron's vision inspection systems use advanced image processing technology to de tect defects and inconsistencies in the bottling process. This ensures that only high-quality products are released onto the market. Omron's PLCs provide precise control of the bottling process, ensuring that the process runs smoothly and efficiently. They can also be inte grated with other automation solutions to cre ate a seamless and integrated production line.

bottling and capping processes by providing real-time data and analytics. This technology can improve process efficiency, reduce downtime, and optimise the production cycle. Omron's HMIs provide a user-friendly inter face for controlling and monitoring the bottling process. They can be customised to meet the specific needs of the bottling operation and provide real-time data and analytics for better decision-making. Augmented Reality (AR) AR technology can help workers visualise and in teract with the bottling and capping equipment more intuitively and efficiently. This technology can improve worker safety, reduce training time, and increase productivity. Omron offers a range of safety solutions to ensure that the bottling process is safe for workers and consumers. These solutions include safety sensors, safety switches, and safety controllers that ensure the bottling process is performed in a safe and controlled environment. By adopting these innovative approaches and technologies, the food and beverage sector can revolutionise bottling and capping, making the process more efficient, sustainable, and consumer friendly. Incorporating technologies from multiple suppliers into a single bottling or capping ma chine can lead to slower performance and more complex troubleshooting. Many end users are now seeking to buy complete packaging lines with multiple functions from a single source. Omron is one of the few automation partners capable of providing these end-to-end solutions. Overall, Omron offers a comprehensive range of automation solutions that can im prove productivity, efficiency, and quality in the food and beverage bottling market in South Africa. www.industrial.omron.co.za

Internet of Things (IoT) IoT technology can help monitor and control

28 ¦ MechChem Africa • November-December 2023