Industrial measurement equipment provider Endress+Hauser says its software for its Promag flowmeter series ensures precision, efficiency and cost-savings in batching for processors who regularlyswitch their production to different foods and beverages.
"Batching" refers to the achievement of repeatable accuracy in measured ingredients. It is a complex task that has long been a challenge for manufacturers, the company stated.
The company's software integrates with existing operating programmes, transforming the flowmeter into batch controllers that synchronise the measuring and control devices. External batchcontrollers then become redundant.
The company has developed batching software that is now included in all of its Promag 53 electro-magnetic and Promass 83 Coriolis flowmeters. Endress+Hauser says the software and the flowmeterswill allow processing plants to switch between product lines with optimum speed, accuracy and safety.
Traditional batching systems consist of a flowmeter and a batch control device, such as a valve or actuator. Since any residue left in the pipe flowed into the mix after the valve was closed,production managers had to use trial and error to determine the shut-off time. More trial and error was involved with each change of product.
With competition driving manufacturers to continually expand and diversify their product ranges, today's automated manufacturing and processing plants are handling an unprecedented variety ofproducts, the company stated. This means accurate batching has become more important than ever.
The software provides process managers with accurate control over the timing, mass and volume of both the primary fill and the fine-tuned secondary fill, the company stated.
The control panel -- located on the flowmeter itself - features a display interface and menu. Up to six user-definable batching set-ups for six products can be easily programmed in the machine.
Different pre-batch, primary batch and secondary batch parameters can be specified for each set-up.
By locating process control on the devices, power demand is reduced and the need for specialist programmers is eliminated, the company stated.
This feature saves on cabling installation, labour and maintenance costs, the company claims.
"By re-positioning and improving process control, Endress+Hauser's batching software provides a single, high-functioning package that empowers manufacturing plants to achieve repeatablebatching accuracy across a variety of product lines - and thus the increased product variety, lower prices and shorter lead times that are essential for long-term operational and cost benefits intoday's highly competitive marketplace," the company claims.