Really practical!

A new HEUFT TeKnowledge workshop provided representatives from the food, animal feed and packaging sectors much more than just theoretical background knowledge on topics such as food safety and the International Featured Standard - Food (IFS Food).  Practical demonstrations also showed how innovative HEUFT systems carry out a successful foreign object management.

There is a lot to tell. And presentations about important topics such as IFS Food certification in general and foreign object management in particular are also extremely interesting for the sector. But nothing is more convincing than a live presentation of innovative inspection systems and to actually be able to prove their superior performance. Therefore the HEUFT TeKnowledge workshop "Give way to food safety" recently held in Bremen not only offered a great deal of theoretical knowledge but also, above all, an unusually high proportion of practical demonstrations directly at the device.
 

HEUFT set up three new systems and got them up and running on the premises of the Freien Brau Union (indepedent brewery) in Bremen for this purpose. For example the latest release of the HEUFT eXaminer ^II XB: the seminar participants were able to witness how reliably and precisely the new generation top-down inspector identifies foreign objects in the product. It even made tiny objects made of glass and metal visible in large-size coffee packages which representatives of an important producer had brought along spontaneously and were then prepared on site. Dirk Henschke, the Product Manager for HEUFT systems with unique X-ray strobes, could not have demonstrated the superior performance of the device presented live more spectacularly.

 

 

 

Impressive X-ray technology and optimal foreign object management

 

The numerous workshop participants who had accepted the invitation of HEUFT Sales Manager Peter Geisler reacted with appropriate enthusiasm. And this was not only due to the careful and precise pulsed X-ray technology which among other things can also be found in the HEUFT eXaminer ^II XAC for a complete inspection of filled food jars and was recently optimised again sustainably. The real-time image processing system with learning ability and intelligent evaluation filters and masks for a clear differentiation between harmless deviations and truly critical faults was also extremely popular. The same applies to the high level of automation and not least to the tamper-proof audiovisual HEUFT NaVi user guidance. The machine can talk to the user via it and therefore provide him with individual step by step support during all the necessary actions. It speaks (not only) for itself!

This is how HEUFT eXaminer ^II systems achieve exactly that which is absolutely necessary for certification in accordance with the IFS Food: a comprehensive foreign object management. Practically all the chapters of these standards, published in the new version 6.1 shortly before the seminar started, include the safety-related topics. The distinguished guests from the food and packaging industry found out about this from IFS auditor Frithjoff Peinert. At the same time the expert explained to them how such a foreign object management can be implemented optimally. It is essential in the course of this to differentiate between the validation that is the proof of the effectiveness of a process before actual operation and the verification which should confirm during ongoing operation that a selected process is really achieving the required result.

 

Specific documentation and reliable validation

 

Superior inspection systems offer valuable services in particular regarding the second point: not only are all HEUFT SPECTRUM ^II systems network-compatible but also the brand new HEUFT ONE entry-level device which Product Manager Anton Diehl demonstrated live in Bremen. This makes the reliable recording, real-time transmission and sustainable archiving of all the operating data and key figures possible and therefore complete evidence of the operating and detecting reliability: everything is documented from the number of rejections over a certain period up to their respective causes. Whether fill level and closure detection, verification of the contents of product markings or metal detection: IFS compliant validation of functionality and performance is therefore always guaranteed even with the extremely compact, affordable HEUFT ONE.

 

 

Of course this also applies to the new benchmark for an entry to a comprehensive optical empty container inspection on a HEUFT level which was presented by the relevant Product Manager Martina Frey: finish cracks, thread defects, inclusions in the sidewall as well as safety risks on the base of food jars and bottles are reliably identified by the HEUFT InLine ^II IR. Tracing its performance is always ensured with integrated test container programs, HEUFT PROFILER solutions for acquiring production data and the HEUFT picCollect which can also store all the detection pictures in the long term. The detailed detection, analysis and documentation of deviations such as variations in glass thickness or misshapen finish areas even functions in relation to the batch. Therefore the filler can provide the glass manufacturer with precise information at all times for optimising his respective production quality. Furthermore the empty glass container inspection is an integral part of an effective foreign object management along one's own line. And it helps to prevent food wastage and saves money: when contamination is identified the empty packaging is already rejected before the valuable product has been filled into it.

It was more than convincing because this was not only explained at the HEUFT Teknowledge event but also demonstrated directly at the running device under practical conditions. Accordingly there was positive feedback from the participants who were able to experience true quality inspection on a HEUFT level at the Freien Brau Union in Bremen.