< Previous30 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netHEALTH, SAFETY AND HYGIENEModern manufacturing isdefined by automation, butthe influx of automatedmachines, smart solutionsand processes brings withthem a number of healthand safety considerations. As steam and coal power defined theindustrial revolution before it,automation is the raison d’etre ofmodern manufacturing. Evidencesuggests that with greater automationcomes job losses, though humanworkers remain (for the foreseeablefuture, at least) an integral cog in themachine. Workers need to be protectedagainst hazards along the productionline, and automation brings with it anumber of new considerations, asAndrew Armstrong, FANUC UK Sales &Marketing Manager explains.In simple terms, industrial robots areautomated moving devices withmultiple axes, Mr Armstrong says.Motion paths, sequences and angles canbe freely programmed and controlledby sensors. Robots can also be fittedwith grippers and other tools, enablingthem to manipulate objects and carryout production tasks. Robots are wellsuited to carry out many differentautomated tasks and make frequentchanges to batches and products.If used carelessly, robots can pose adanger to humans. Robotmanufacturers including FANUC haveinvested enormous effort and money toproduce models with the highest safetylevels. As robots have become morerefined, devices are used to monitor arobot’s surroundings, such as vision andforce sensors that allow robots to seeand feel what is around them. In recent years, collaborative robots(or ‘Cobots’) have emerged: in contrastto traditional robots, these cage-freevarieties can work side by side withhumans on shared or separate tasks. Although collaborative robots do noteliminate the need for workplace riskassessments, Mr Armstrong says, theincreased adoption of peripheral safetydevices is enabling robots and humansto work in close proximity of each other.Cobots are equipped with force sensing,32 ÁWho automates the automated?PHOTO: FANUC30-37_Layout 1 27/02/2017 10:13 Page 1Food & Drink International 31www.fdiforum.netCompliant and • Cloud based paperless system• Real time immediate alerts on non-conformity• Wireless sensors monitor everything from temperature to door closing• Analyse production trends to • Consistency across shift patterns 24-7Be audit-ready at the click of a button. , the smart cloud based system, makes it easy for you to manage compliance within complex food standard frameworks. Our wireless technology ensures no labour-intensive, paper-based checks, improving process compliance and saving you time and money. 01223 941450Since 1945 sera products have represented the highest measure of quality, safety and reliability in the treatment of drinking water, process water and wastewater.t Dosing and feeding pumpst Dosing systems and disinfection systemst Process measuring and control technologyt Fittings and accessoriest Extensive pre- and after-sales serviceMAKING THE DIFFERENCE IN CHEMICAL DOSINGWe don´t just promise, we do!sera ProDos UK Ltd.+44 1733 396040sales.uk@sera-web.comwww.sera-web.com30-37_Layout 1 27/02/2017 10:13 Page 232 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netHEALTH, SAFETY AND HYGIENEHeat exchanger selection tips forfood producers Heat exchangers are an established way to thermally process foods, including cooking,pasteurisation, sterilisation, heating and cooling.Consider if you really need a heat exchanger, or whether a simple heating element orstraightforward refrigeration is sufficient. If a heat exchanger is the right solution, make sure it willprocess your materials at the correct rate for your process while providing sufficient heat transfer.For example, if the system does not handle certain products correctly it can change or damagetheir texture.Also look at the efficiency and whether it can recover heat for reuse in the process orelsewhere. Maintenance requirements are another important consideration and both efficiencyand running costs can offset higher capital costs over the life of a unit.Ask questions of potential suppliers, including how they have designed the system, whatsupport is available and whether it will be possible to upgrade it in the future.For more information, visit www.hrs-heatexchangers.com.they can feel or detect anabnormal force and stop themotion immediately to reduce theimpact of a collision and avoidincidents, like crushing. As collaborative robots areworking alongside humanswithout any type of shield orguarding, it raises complexity. Inline with ISO 10218 and ISO/TS15066 standards which relate tothe collaborative operation andsafety functions, a riskassessment must be carried outto prove that the entire roboticsystem and application using acollaborative robot is safe,including grippers and any otherperipheral equipment. Grippers are handlingequipment that secure positionand orientation in relation to thehandling device when picking upand depositing objects. Mostgrippers work on a mechanical,pneumatic, electric or adhesiveprinciple. Grippers also includevacuum suckers.The gripper must cope with thephysical and mechanicalproperties of the object andhandle it without leaving any visiblemarks or damage to avoid pinching orcrushing injuries. The risks of theseshould be taken into account when riskassessing.In 2013, the first safety standards forcollaborative robotics, ANSI/RIA R15.06,were published. More recently, MrArmstrong says, the ISO/TS 15066standard was published in March 2016.It outlines guidance for and therequirements of collaborative industrialrobot systems, such as contact forcesand pressures that can be applied todifferent regions of the body. Smart solutions in the food industryare larger than the application of AIalone, with the capabilities of mobileand tablet devices working in tandemwith cloud computing becoming moreand more relevant. Applicationsdesigned specifically for safetyare enjoying greater marketproliferation, as producers andretailers explore more fool-proofand trustworthy measures tosecure the supply chain. With itsrange of innovative technologysolutions, Checkit – operatingwithin the Elektron TechnologyGroup – are helping to bolsterthe industry’s defences. Its EHOapproved work managementmemo and automatedmonitoring solution givesorganisations the ability to seewhether checks have beencompleted over multi-sites andlocations. Retailers audit theirsuppliers several times a year –often unannounced. Checkit’sdigital transformation of HACCPmanagement will increaseefficiency, reduce costs andprovides a company’s retailcustomers with the confidencethat your processes are alwayscompliant. Checkit’s nextgeneration smart wireless sensorsreplace countless manual checksand hours of staff time withautomated monitoring of CriticalControl points. They can be installedand re-located anywhere, providingcontinuous, accurate measurements oftemperature, humidity and door closingthat are digitally time-stamped and sentto the cloud 24/7.Sera has also utilised mobile and34 ÁPHOTO: ELECTRONIC TEMPERATURE INSTRUMENTS LTD30-37_Layout 1 27/02/2017 10:13 Page 3Take the fight to contaminants, germs and bugs! Clean welds, sealed ingresses and tough materials mean you can defeat germs with our hygienic furniture and equipment.FOODFIGHTQUALITY BY DESIGNQNQUALITY THROUGH MANUFACTUREQUALITY OF SERVICET: 01603 788 833 | W: teknomek.co.uk | E: mail@teknomek.co.uk30-37_Layout 1 27/02/2017 10:13 Page 4www.etiltd.comdesigned for the food & drink industryThermometersAs the UK’s No.1 thermometer manufacturer we offera wide product range including our Thermapen® 4thermometer & our new ThermaData® WiFi loggersfor wireless temperature monitoring 34 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netHEALTH, SAFETY AND HYGIENENew 12 litre bucket makes Vikan’saward-winning bucket family even betterLaunched in January 2017, the new 12 LitreBucket is a welcome update to Vikan’s award-winning bucket range, and includes a numberof features to improve hygiene and usability,as well as simplified storage and handling.The Vikan 12L bucket at a glance:* Stackable design saves storage space* Snap-on lid improves security and safety* Easy-to-read measures include litre, UKand US gallon marks * Sloped design makes stirring, mixing andemptying faster* Drainage hole prevents water accumulation during storage* Available in 9 colours for hygienic colour coding.Debra Smith, Vikan’s Global Hygiene Specialist, said: “With the redesign of our 12 Litre Bucket,industry professionals can now choose from a range of bucket sizes that all feature smartdesign solutions to improve hygiene, safety and usability.”The new 12 Litre Bucket is made from premium quality and highly durable materials, and iscompliant with all relevant EU and FDA regulations. For more information, visit www.buckets.vikan.com.tablet technology after complementedits high performance pumps portfoliowith the release of a free-to-use appwhich shows you at a glance hazardand the respective resistance of thematerials used in the dosing andcompressor technology against liquidand gaseous chemicals.The rise of smarter technologicalsolutions isn’t without its own set ofchallenges, as cybercrime hasdeveloped alongside it. Ensuring robustcyber defences is no longer a luxury, ashostile attacks have become a very realand common threat with can affect anybusiness at anytime and anywhere inthe world. In an industry where thesafety of workers and consumers is onthe line, companies can’t afford to playPHOTO: TEKNOMEK30-37_Layout 1 27/02/2017 10:13 Page 5Food & Drink International 35www.fdiforum.netHEALTH, SAFETY AND HYGIENE3M and Clean-Trace are trademarks of the 3M company. © 3M 2017. All rights reserved. J365958.Introducing the 3M™ Clean-Trace™ Hygiene Monitoring and Management System.• Verify cleaning effectiveness in seconds• Make confident decisions with accurate results• Be audit ready with powerful reports3M.com/foodsafety/Clean-TraceEMEAFoodSafety@mmm.comGet more than numbers — get answers.fast and loose with digital security. The opportunities offered by cloudcomputing have only in the last fewyears really begun to presentthemselves to the food and drinksindustry, but it has enjoyed the benefitsof digital technology for far longer.Digital thermometers, for example, offerunparalleled accuracy, especiallycompared to their analogue ancestors,which often leave a wide margin forerror. Electronic TemperatureInstruments (ETI) serve almost theentire spectrum of the food industrywith its range of digital thermometersand supporting software, from catering,to processing and other industrialcapabilities. As a dominant supplier ofdigital thermometers and temperaturesensors, to both the industrial andcatering sectors, ETI has developed areputation throughout Europe andincreasingly worldwide, as a leadingmanufacturer and supplier of qualityand value for money instrumentation fora wide range of applications. UK-based hygienic furniture andequipment manufacturer Teknomekspecialises in equipment specificallydesigned to operate in hygienicenvironments, preserving the integrityof clean production lines, but alsoensuring food products andpharmaceuticals are kept free ofcontaminates and adulteration. Much ofits range also serves to preserve workersafety in these environments, which arevulnerable to accidents and hazards aselsewhere. Take, for example, itsstainless steel steps, stools and matting.Its steps use savvy product design andapplication to offer superiorfunctionality whilst also keeping userssafe – such as non-slip checkplate steps,locking handles and widened legs. Itskickstool likewise employs similardesign, utilising rubber grip, and beingable to grip to the floor for optimumsafety and hygienic integrity. On top of the growing need forautomation, food and beveragemanufacturers operate in a highlycompetitive environment with apresiding need to deliver safe, hygienicand satisfying products at a competitiveprice whilst also having a minimalimpact on the environment. Heatexchangers enter the equation byoffering a means of thermallyprocessing foods, including cooking,pasteurisation, sterilisation and heatingand cooling. HRS Heat Exchangersprovide a range of heat exchangers, aswell as components, modules andcomplete processing systems, in orderto help manufacturers optimiseproduction, make the most of rawmaterials all the while reducing energyconsumption, waste and emissions. So long as there are machines andequipment, there also exists the needfor human operators. AI is a burgeoningindustry, of which there is no doubt, butthere is still a long way to go beforethese solutions are fully integrated intothe manufacturing process. Humanworkers are still commonplace alongthe production line, so protecting thoseworkers is a key priority for producersand food businesses. An injured workercan result in heavy fines, damaginglawsuits and a wounded reputation.30-37_Layout 1 27/02/2017 10:13 Page 6QUALITY PRODUCT INSPECTION: FLEXIBLE, RELIABLE & SECOND TO NONE EC-E-VA | CheckweigherAt OCS we understand the importance of reliable product inspection. OCS meets the stringent hygienic require-ments of the food industry, to a high standard. Further-more, the application based and solution orientated Checkweighers, Metal Detectors and X-ray machines are adaptable to meet the specific demands of your production process. Consistency in operation, as well as outstanding overall eff ectiveness and performance, work to your advantage. OCS product inspection: Lead ing technology, exceeding your expectations.Visit us at Interpack and see our machines live in action!T +44.1993.701-970info.uk@ocs-cw.comSC-E | Hightech X-ray scannerHC-M-WD-MDi | Checkweigher and metal detection30-37_Layout 1 27/02/2017 10:13 Page 7Food & Drink International 37www.fdiforum.netHEALTH, SAFETY AND HYGIENEYou have to look deep inside allaspects of your business to understandwhat needs improving. This also appliesto inspection systems that have thevision to allow you to weigh up youroptions for continuous improvementwhilst maintaining the highest safetyand accuracy available to you.With this in mind, OCSCheckweighers has developed, throughits more than 100 strong research anddevelopment centre of excellence,systems that will assist you in every dayproduction in inspecting the quality andaccuracy of the food being producedfor home branded or retail packs. Withthe ever increasing and changingdemands facing the meat, poultry andfish industries, it seems that morereliable and accurate inspectionsystems, such as checkweighers and X-ray scanners, are being used for agrowing variety of applications andproducts produced.Accurate checkweighers are playingtheir part in providing vital statisticalinformation to enable fixed weightpacks to be produced more accurately.Some are using the feed control facilityto adjust the cutting, slicing and dicingmachinery to reduce giveaways andthereby reducing future financialimplications throughout the year.Accuracy is good, but when coupled withreliability and a proven track record ofbuilding high quality systems, OCS canassure you of having the best possibleinspection equipment your money canbuy.The OCS range of Checkweighingequipment is built to meet the IP65specification, with the added bonus of ahigh-pressure hose proof housing toIP69K specification, to relieve concerns ofwater ingress damage in harsherenvironments. Let’s face it, we have allhad to replace components or machineson a regular basis on other manufacturer’scheckweighers for various reasons. So, why not eliminate this problem?Source the ideal solution from OCSCheckweighers and make dramaticsavings on parts and machineryreplacements by avoiding expensivedowntime. Having the vision to seewithin, will always be the best way ofmoving a successful business forward. Byseeing what`s good and rejecting what’sbad, broken, missing, contaminated,incorrect or just wrong, is no differentto how your OCS X-ray system ismonitoring your products beingproduced. OCS Checkweighers installedequipment into your production lines,will give you the confidence and faith ofknowing that each pack that leaves thefactory has no faults which couldseriously affect your business. If youcould see a defect product within apack, then you would have thisremoved. This is exactly what your X-ray purchase will be doing for you onevery pack being produced. Knowing that OCS Checkweigherssystems have the lowest false rejectionimaginable, you can have peace of mindin protecting your product andcompany’s future and reputation. OCSthink so and are happy to prove this; itsspecialists will be in contact very soonto design the right solution to suit you,whatever your requirements.Furthermore, it has the capability totrial products and provide results fromour Oxford base, Germanmanufacturing facility and even via ourmobile machinery van unit. Sometimes you need to haveX-ray vision to weigh it upFor more information, visit www.ocs-cw.com, email info.uk@ocs-cw.com or call +44(0) 1993 701970.EC-EVAHC-M-MDISC-E30-37_Layout 1 27/02/2017 10:13 Page 838 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netMEAT, POULTRY & SEAFOODThe meat, poultry andseafood industries facetheir own raft ofchallenges within theindustry, but it’s not alldoom and gloom. The meat, poultry and seafood sectorhas frequently undergone hugechanges thanks to consistentfluctuations in consumer tastes withvarious products going in and out offashion. In more recent times, securityand sustainability have also had a majorimpact on the production process.In terms of demand, a growingmiddle class in China, not to mentionbetter supply chains within Europe,have led to an increase in the demandfor products such as beef and pork.Imports and exports remain strong, butunpredictable fluctuations in currencyhave led to complications for some. The industry faces other problems,however, particularly in the UK with areport released this February revealingthat 25% of UK abattoirs failing ‘dirtymeat’ checks. The knock-onreputational costs of this will be felt byboth manufacturers and retailers andhighlights the importance ofindependently vetting supplies forquality, rather than going with thecheapest solution. Sustainability and security have alsobeen major drivers of innovation in theseafood sector. Consumers areincreasingly interested in theprovenance of the fish and seafoodthey eat and keep an eye on thesustainability of the fishing process.Now new EU legislative requirementshave come into force which are alsoemphasising the importance ofsustainable fishing.Meatthechallenge38-41_Layout 1 27/02/2017 10:16 Page 1Food & Drink International 39www.fdiforum.netMEAT, POULTRY & SEAFOODIn addition, as a result of efforts tokeep the product as fresh as possible,many companies in the seafoodindustry are being forced to look attheir supply chains, and how theydistribute fresh seafood from fisheriesand docks to manufacturing facilities.This is a common part of the supplychain for wastage and damaged goods,particularly where the journey may be along one. Packaging solutions can helpin these regards, as Grimsby-basedTripak discovered last year, when theydeveloped their CoolSeal boxes tocombat the issue. CoolSeal boxes usepatented fish and seafood boxtechnology to seal the edges, providinga strong hygienic pack that is virtuallyunbreakable – and can exist outside ofthe cold chain for up to four hours.Beyond that, the boxes are flexible inthat they can be designed to facilitatedrainage, or be completely leak proof. Packaging solutions are also findingtheir way within the meat industry totry and keep produce fresher on theshelf for longer. Vacuum-sealedpackaging is common in this regard;removing air – and thus pollutants –that might make the meat go out ofdate sooner. For many in the industry, the bestway to keep track of changes anddevelopments is to attend one of thelarger industry specific exhibitions inthe year. Specialists in the industry willbe gathering in Milton Keynes this May,on the 24th and 25th at Meatup 2017, todiscuss many of the issues facing themeat industry. Exhibitors will also beshowcasing their solutions to theproblems faced – which should enablethe industry to share and pool expertiseand knowledge. With a host ofseminars, including a focus on legal andtechnical issues facing the industry, it’s40 ÁConsumers are increasingly interested in theprovenance of the fish and seafood they eat and keepan eye on the sustainability of the fishing process38-41_Layout 1 27/02/2017 10:16 Page 2Next >