< Previous20 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE With aims of bolstering efficiency, safety and product integrity, firms within the food industry turn to software and connected hardware for insight and control over all aspects of food production and distribution, from forecasting to planning, inventory management, quality control, tracking, logistics, processing and more. As a fast-paced industry, food and drink firms are often exploring new solutions to ensure processes run smoothly and to offer the highest quality levels. It is key that firms of all sizes keep a finger on the pulse, making note of the latest software and hardware that will facilitate improvement aims and assist in the winning of major contracts, as well as help retain them. Perhaps the most important, commonplace, system for food and drink firms is an ERP solution, especially as firms look to become more digitised and better react to shifting consumer trends and a growing need for heightened food safety (emphasised in light of COVID- 19). Standing out as a management tool making use of integrated apps and offering a comprehensive, real time view of how a firm is performing, ERP’s made for the food industry are vital in streamlining processes. ERP systems created with the food industry in mind are being designed with efficiency, safety, and accountability a priority. The tool can help with regulation compliance, traceability, and quality assurance, while presenting forecasting, planning, inventory, production, and logistics management. The growth of ERPs comes as firms look to ditch the use of various independent platforms, to overcome issues of data integration and disharmony between processes. By consolidating data (production to financial, compliance and inventory data) into one system an aerial view is provided, enabling control of all processes from a centralised point and as a result improved analysis. Features to look out for when selecting a food industry-specific ERP solution should include the ability to integrate with different systems used in different areas of a company, like CRM, and automated regulatory compliance to identify problems when recalls or audit inspections occur and boost traceability by recording ingredients used and the processes they have been through from start to end. It should also provide features like financial management to correctly record costs and expenses, quality management - Savvy solutions In the quick moving food and drink industry, companies must explore new software and hardware solutions to streamline processes and maintain high quality levels. 22 Á 20-23.qxp_Layout 1 29/07/2020 11:06 Page 1Food & Drink International 21 www.fdiforum.net SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE © Shutterstock / Alexander Supertramp 20-23.qxp_Layout 1 29/07/2020 11:06 Page 222 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE handling allergen and testing management - automated shelf life alerts, sales and stock management to prevent shortages and spoilage, and recipe control to handle formula, costing and quantity information. One should additionally assess the support and maintenance offered with a solution if problems arise or updates are needed and the intuitiveness of the software. Moreover whether to adopt a cloud- based solution or on-premises option should be considered. In general, cloud software solutions have gained momentum alongside the move to SaaS. The focus on offering cloud-based software over on-premises solutions comes as they require a simple web browser for access. Cloud software presents easy access from multiple locations and usually does not require a specific operating system for use such as Windows. In addition with cloud software, one can bypass the need for servers and support for hardware repair or replacement. Developments in the space continue to see firms move away from standalone software in its complete form to that that evolves with new developments along with the offer of long-term support, and easy updates, i.e. SaaS. SaaS solution applications for the supply chain vary from supplier management to transport and warehouse management, demand planning and more. Seen benefits of SaaS and cloud solutions include software responsiveness, lower total cost of ownership, data security, flexibility, scalability, and connectivity. Innovative software and hardware solutions are being utilised throughout the supply chain. With the rise of the Internet of Things, growing use of its associated sensors and connected devices, and the recognition of its benefits, smart factory software is ready to enhance productivity and visibility in food manufacturing. One way in which this is achieved is through automated real time data collection, bidding adieu to manual, error susceptible collection. Smart factory software solutions allow the collection, analysis and reporting of data in real time to boost accuracy, assure quality and permit data-driven decision making. Reports can be created to save resources and energy, reduce waste, save operator time, improve inventory management, and enable preventative maintenance. Looking closer at preventative maintenance, smart sensors and artificial intelligence (AI) analysis are able to identify equipment anomalies, prevent downtime and increase the lifespan of machinery. In these programmes, engineers can be sent alerts upon the discovery of something out of the ordinary and manufacturers given time to order replacement parts prior to breakdowns. The use of AI here offers a further step into prescriptive maintenance, not only anticipating failures but recommending actions. For instance while with predictive maintenance it can be indicated when, say, a motor is likely to fail based on vibration and temperature profile, with prescriptive maintenance the impact of motor temperature and speed can be highlighted with suggestions to reduce speed to extend how long machinery can work before a stop. The use of AI-based software solutions, particularly with the AI technique machine learning (ML), has further extended purposes in the food industry, handling the vast amounts of data that can be collected by food firms, for example facilitating more accurate demand forecasts. AI and ML make probabilistic forecasting easier, assessing large amounts of data from internal and external sources: news, events, and weather as well as sales data, inventory amongst other sources to predict demand more confidently and produce what if models for different scenarios. Those dealing with warehouse management can also use these predictions in automated processes that arrange stock for picking based on demand. With more accurate forecasting one can also mitigate the costs of overstocks and being out of stock. The debate of off-the-shelf or bespoke solutions continues to come into play when selecting software and hardware. There are pros and cons to both. Off-the-shelf software offers a ready-made, immediately available product, created for a wider market. It is cheaper, quick to implement, often includes updates and is owned by another party who take on upgrade costs. In addition, reviews of the software usually exist and can be accessed. However, the solution can be inflexible, require compromise, and purchasers have less control. Furthermore, over time support may drop off, and the software may come with more or less features and functions than you require. On the other hand bespoke software, built new to a business’s requirements, comes with advantages such as tightened control of 20-23.qxp_Layout 1 29/07/2020 11:07 Page 3Food & Drink International 23 www.fdiforum.net SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE development, increased flexibility, the potential to gain a competitive advantage with a unique solution, a better ROI, a chance to wipe out compatibility issues, and the ability to build in heightened security as a priority. However, bespoke software comes with a higher initial cost due to the time and expertise required for its design and could take months or years to develop. Ultimately cost, time and features will need to be considered to make a purchasing decision. With little budget and time, off-the-shelf will generally be the software of choice. Alternatively if a company needs certain features not covered by off-the-shelf software, developing a bespoke solution will be chosen. Wider software development trends are seeing a rise in vertically aligned industry specific software - aka software not just for the food industry as a whole. A key shift is employing a micro-verticalized food ERP software - a specialised software targeting micro- verticals. More specific solutions hold importance as vastly different companies which fall under the “food and beverage industry business” umbrella - from beer to poultry producers - face distinct problems, demands and regulation. Holding complex supply chains, the technology required by varying businesses in the industry can be significantly different. Food and drink firms should consider partnering with software providers able to meet their particular challenges. © Shutterstock /Rawpixel.com 20-23.qxp_Layout 1 29/07/2020 11:07 Page 424 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE - ACROVISION FEVER SCREENING Q&A Can you tell us more about fever / temperature screening and whether it can detect COVID-19? Now more than ever we need to be vigilant of fevers or viruses, and, in turn, the wellbeing of staff in the workplace. In addition, we need to increase everyone’s confidence in knowing they are entering a safe environment. Fever or temperature screening uses Thermal Imaging Camera technology to measure the Infra-Red radiation that emits from the human body. The basis for the effectiveness of Thermal Cameras as a screening tool lies in the correlation of outside skin surface temperature with that of the internal or core body temperature. Thermal Cameras are looking to detect elevated body temperature (EBT) that would indicate a possible fever and would require further enhanced screening by a professional. They are not detecting any specific virus or condition! The AFS-100 promises ultra- accurate results, but what makes it so precise? Fever or Temperature Screening can be a great method of preventing virus’s entering the workplace. However, there are many misconceptions on what constitutes an effective and reliable screening method with the majority of solutions available, in our opinion, misleading and not really fit for purpose. Our AFS-100 targets the Medial Canthus area, which is the small piece of skin near our tear ducts. IR temperature measurement at the Medial Canthus is generally accepted as a region that offers the closest correlation to the core body temperature. Other parts of the body such as the forehead vary too much in relation to ambient temperature to be used accurately i.e. if it is very cold outside, the forehead may still provide a low (and “acceptable”) temperature even if the user has an internal high temperature. Our solution analyses every pixel (approx.1.3mm) of the targeted area and highlights the hottest region, but to be able to do so needs a camera resolution of 382 x 288 pixels. The majority of lower cost solutions on the market are using much lower and therefore insufficient resolution cameras. Another key element to the accuracy of the AFS-100 is the use of the “Reference Body”. Although most IR cameras with microbolometer sensors are promoted today with accuracies of +/- 0.5 °C or better, these accuracies cannot be achieved without the use of a black body reference source. So be aware of systems that claim +/- 0.5 °C and do not use a reference. This claim is sometimes made by averaging out temperatures in the software and is therefore not as reliable. The AFS-100 uses a Reference Body which ensures the required accuracy regardless of changing ambient temperatures. Q&A Paul Cunningham, Director, Acrovision At a time when company bosses and food and beverage operators are looking to safeguard their workplaces and production sites, we spoke to Acrovision about the benefits of temperature screening and the specifics of its innovative, ultra-accurate AFS-100 solution. 24-25.qxp_Layout 1 29/07/2020 11:08 Page 1Food & Drink International 25 www.fdiforum.net SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE - ACROVISION FEVER SCREENING Q&A The AFS-100 has been designed to be extremely easy to install and use yet remain ultra- accurate in its results. What other features can it offer? As an option, the AFS-100 offers a Data Collection bolt-on, which allows the use of Personnel ID cards to both trigger the camera and to log individual’s temperature measurements for further analysis. For example, a company may wish to review a particular individuals’ temperatures over a certain period of time. Or, if a virus has occurred in the workplace, it may want to analyse temperatures of other members of staff working in the same area. The database also holds an image of each acquisition which may again be useful for future analysis. As a new solution, is there any regulatory body in place controlling this kind of equipment? There is an ISO Standard existing for Medical Electrical Equipment - ISO Standard IEC80601-2-59 for “basic safety and essential performance of screening human febrile temperatures”. The standard calls for such specifications as a minimum camera resolution of 340x240 pixels. It also states the need for a Reference Body to ensure consistent and accurate results. We believe it is important that our solution meets all the key requirements of this ISO Standard to re-assure potential users of the quality and suitability of the system. AFS-100 is sold with a certificate of calibration, validating the measurement made against a traceable 35 °C temperature reference source. Many industry professionals favour ‘plug and play’ solutions. How easy is the AFS-100 to set up? The AFS-100 has been designed to be easy to set up and extremely easy to use. The solution consists of 2 x heavyweight mounting poles, one for the compact Thermal Imaging camera and screen and one for the Body Reference. The kit is bundled with the software on the PC with very little configuring involved. Overall, the complete installation takes less than two hours to get up and fully running. In operation, in “Free-Running” mode, the user simply walks up to the monitor, the temperature is taken, and a resulting measurement is shown with a Red for Too-High and Green for Good feedback. Audible and Visual alarms can be integrated if required. In Data Collection Mode, the user simply taps their ID card against a reader, which instigates a count-down before the camera takes the temperature acquisition. Finally, Acrovision are pleased to say that 10% of the profits from AFS-100 sales will be donated to the NHS. To find out more, visit www.acrovision.co.uk, email info@acrovision.co.uk, or call +44(0) 845 337 0250. 24-25.qxp_Layout 1 29/07/2020 11:08 Page 226 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net POUCH PACKAGING The rise and rise of pouch packaging Over the last ten years, there has been an explosion in the popularity and usage of laminated stand-up pouch packaging which, in turn, has spawned innovations from barrier films to speciality closures and spouts that are now commonplace. Food and Drink International explores. 26-29.qxp_Layout 1 29/07/2020 11:10 Page 1Food & Drink International 27 www.fdiforum.net POUCH PACKAGING The widespread deployment of pouch packaging demonstrates the demand for convenience, ease of use and products that align with the growing environmental agenda. Pouch packages are highly versatile, offering an impressive degree of customisation that continues to make them an attractive option to producers and consumers alike. They come in several different formats, depending on the function and market for which they’re intended. For example, baby food often makes use of the spout pouch, in which a plastic cap can be twisted off and the food inside © Shutterstock / Itsanan © Shutterstock / Fotofermer forecast to reach $19.90 billion by 2021. One of the biggest motivators in the development of new packaged goods concerns the environment. Pressure groups, campaigners, consumers and government ministers have all called on food companies and packaging producers to make their products more sustainable and more easily recyclable. Pouch packaging, especially the aforementioned re-saleable pouch varieties, has an advantage here over many of its counterparts. While they’re still ultimately made from multiple layers of plastic – the primary raw sucked out of a plastic spout. This also has the added benefit of being re- sealable, helping with portion control and cutting down on food waste. For pouch packaging, the baby food market has also yielded several breakthroughs including no spill technologies. Functionality is crucial to the popularity of pouch packaging, with heat saleable and flat-bottomed varieties available. Though most commonly found paired with ambient foods, pouch packages have become increasingly common in the freezer aisle. Considering all this, it should come as no surprise that the industry is 28 Á 26-29.qxp_Layout 1 29/07/2020 11:10 Page 228 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net POUCH PACKAGING Tel: 0031‐756420161 Web: www.pouchalliance.com Email: info@pouchalliance.com Your manufacturer of nutritional liquids Development, production and filling of liquids into flexible packaging As a contract‐manufacturing company, we focus on custom‐specific formulation development, filling and packaging of private labels and A‐brands. We believe that a strong formulation with an excellent taste is essential for a successful product. BRC Global Standard Certified Food Safety Issue 8 ‐ Grade AA material being linear polyethylene resin – these re-sealable pouches aren’t single use. Single-use plastics are rampant in the food and drink industry, especially in the food-to- go – which think tank IGD says will be worth £23.5 billion in the UK by 2022 – where packaging is discarded after a product is consumed. But with a re-sealable function on a pouch package, it encourages multiple uses by ensuring the product inside is kept fresh and improving the overall customer experience. Because of the lightweight nature and flexibility of pouch packages, producers can save on storage space and pack more product in one shipment, thereby saving fuel costs in transit. So when it comes to logistics, pouch packaging is often a more environmentally- friendly option than other more rigid forms of packaging. This also makes these packages ideal for mail orders, as their lightweight nature means producers can reduce postage costs compared to other materials. For all that, pouch packages are still a challenge when it comes to recycling. As the environmental agenda becomes of increased importance, doubtless the flexible packaging industry will continue to make gains with the recyclability of pouch packages. Although at present these packages can be optimised for recycling, they are often thrown out with domestic waste. It’s worth noting, however, that niche and speciality recyclers are now accepting these kinds of plastics for recycling. Several pouch packaging makers specialising in recyclable and eco-friendly packages have also emerged over the last few years to improve the industry’s green credentials. For producers, the benefit of pouch packaging is first and foremost its versatility. As the most flexible and adaptable type of packaging on the market, shape, size and materials can all be adapted to meet specific customer requirements. They also use fewer resources to produce than other common types of packaging such as plastic tubs and tins. They are also incredible durable as they’re often made from laminated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) that can stand up to high pressure and temperatures. This makes it ideal in transit, but also means it’s ideally suited to microwavable cooking, making it a popular choice for ready meal foods such as rice, pasta, cous cous and quinoa. High barrier pouches, meanwhile, employ a protective layer which keeps outside elements from entering the package. It’s also not just in terms of materials where pouches have an advantage over other types of packaging, but they boast reduced retort and serialisation time compared with glass bottles 26-29.qxp_Layout 1 29/07/2020 11:11 Page 3Plug & play pouch machine The new SN FM E 50 form, fill and seal pouch machine is tailor designed and constructed in-house at SN Maschinenbau in Germany. It has been specially developed as a plug & play machine concept, meaning from delivery – positioning, installation and first pouch commissioning can be performed with 30 minutes. The FM E 50 is available in a simplex execution for a pouch range from 50-170 x 70-210mm. And benefits from an extremely attractive compact footprint of 3,700 x 1,180mm. Suitable for dry products and powders with an output up to 80 pouches per minute. The easy operating pouch machine system, developed by SN engineers with years of pouch knowledge and experience, provides proven and reliable form, fill and seal pouch production with a quick format change, from sachet-sachet within 15 minutes, and from sachet to stand-up-pouch of 30 minutes. To ensure fast change-overs can be achieved, most components have been fitted with quick release handles and can be operated without the use of tools. This includes the side sealing/cooling beams, bottom sealing beams as well as the central carousel segments. Basic machine features include a knife design as used with faster and more advanced pouch machines systems, de- centralised control structure for all servo motion drives, 7” HMI positioned at the machine discharge, centralised gripper adjustment and an empty pouch reject station on position 8 of the carousel. Additionally, and in line with all SN pouch machines, a range of technical options are available upon request. Such as zipper insertion, nitrogen gas flushing, stand up pouch variants, synchronisation with a multi head scale, cross feed auger, dust extraction etc. For more information on high performing pouch machine systems, visit www.penn-packaging.co.uk, email@penn-packaging.co.uk, or call +44(0) 1473 893990. Food & Drink International 29 www.fdiforum.net POUCH PACKAGING and metal tins. As well as the convenience inherent with flexible pouches, another big draw is the vibrancy of pouch packaging. Designed either to stand upright or hang, pouch packages are easy to pack and display on store shelves. Some might have a clear window allowing consumers to see the product inside, but typically the entire package is the label, offering producers a big canvas to work from. Pouch packaging offers full front image, rotogravure quality printing and improved print quality, but there’s no added cost for extra labelling, as everything is included on-pack. Because of its strong shelf appeal and immediate impact with consumers, these packages also mean that smaller producers and start-ups can compete with major industry players. The consumer demand and industry ubiquity of pouch packaging has led to manufacturers having to increase their production output to keep up. This, in turn, has meant machine makers have had to supply ever more innovative equipment. Some filling machines now boast speeds of 120 pouches per minute and this will only increase. Machine makers have also noted an uptick in orders for bespoke, integrated systems designed to suit their exact needs. Although recyclability issues persist, doubtless the pouch packaging market will continue to flourish as consumers favour convenient dynamic packaging to enjoy on the go or that’s easy to handle and reseal at home whether that’s for a pet, a baby or a pack of sweets. © Shutterstock /Shuang Li 26-29.qxp_Layout 1 29/07/2020 11:11 Page 4Next >