Interpack 2017
Mettler-Toledo Safeline debuts four enhancements on its metal detection systems
This content item was originally published on www.dairyreporter.com, a William Reed online publication.
The added features on its Profile Throat metal detectors and Gravity Fall systems included; Reduced Test (RT) Mode; Automatic Test System (ATS); eDrive and Emulation for operators to mirror the Human Machine Interface (HMI) using VNC (Virtual Network Computing) technology.
Overall savings in time
Mike Bradley, head of sales, Mettler-Toledo Safeline, said RT can offer a significant reduction in the frequency of metal detector testing.
For example, a customer who was testing metal detector function every two hours can extend this to every 12 hours with RT, provided the extended test period is still within the customer's quarantine period for the product concerned.
Reduced Test Mode will identify any issues that could potentially affect the performance of the metal detector including operator involvement and alert users before the system goes out of specification.
“We have a customer in the UK that was testing their "throat" metal detectors every two hours but now, after applying Reduced Test Mode, they test every 12 hours, which gives them a productivity benefit,” he said.
“Testing still takes between three and five minutes, but now they only have to do it twice a day. This particular customer has in excess of 24 metal detectors, so the overall savings in time alone were substantial.”
ATS automatically introduces three test pieces into the metal detector's aperture in a controlled manner via a pneumatic system - one ferrous, one non-ferrous and one stainless steel.
Work at height
“ATS reduces the need for operators to work at height to conduct performance monitoring tests, making the whole process virtually risk-free,” added Bradley.
Fitted with eDrive, Mettler-Toledo’s latest throat metal detectors and gravity fall systems claim to deliver up to 20% increased spherical sensitivity and Emulation means operators can mirror the HMI of one or multiple Profile metal detectors onto remote networked devices, including mobile phones, tablets and laptops.
“Often, metal detectors are installed in inaccessible places on the line. By enabling operators to control the device remotely it gives easier access to run performance monitoring sequences or adjust settings for product changeovers if required to improve overall efficiency,” said Bradley.
“Emulation supports a ‘top-floor to shop-floor’ monitoring system that can be connected via Wi-Fi or an existing network.”
Interpack 2017 was held at Dusseldorf, Germany May 4-10.
