Production yield is extremely important in all manufacturing plants. However, it is even more critical for contract manufacturers, such as US-based Steuben Foods, which assembled a loss improvement team to determine where product losses occur within its production facility. In order to achieve this, reliable data was required, and through a process of elimination, an Endress+Hauser Promass 83 F Coriolis flowmeter was employed.
Steuben Foods is a contract manufacturer of antiseptic products. Its range of products includes: organic milk, soymilk, soup broth, coffee concentrates and nutriceuticals. The facility has about 20 storage silos for a total inventory of 18 kilotonnes of product. With 15 production lines, product is constantly being moved in and out of silos. In addition, the problem is compounded by the fact that the specific gravity of each and every product differs.
The possibility of using a PLC to calculate the weight based on an estimated specific gravity was considered. However, this process was ruled out as it would have introduced more error. A modification to each silo by installing multiple sensors was also considered. However, the loss improvement team opted for a completely new approach.
By mounting an Endress+Hauser Promass 83 F Coriolis mass flowmeter on a wheeled cart, the content of each tank could be measured very accurately as the tanks were filled and later emptied. The solution was simple and cost-effective. An inventory schedule was established and the Promass was connected to a chart recorder to monitor flow rates and movement.
The first immediate result was the discovery that the truck scales used for incoming supply were inaccurate. The Promass meter was able to provide more consistent and repeatable measurement. The improvement team estimated the return on investment for the Promass flowmeter and the cart to be approximately one month.
Today, the cart is still in use and in addition to accurately measuring the transfer of product from storage to process, it also measures the transfer of product from process to filling and is used as a reference in calibration. Vortex meters are (for example) used to record and control CIP flow and these are calibrated on a regular schedule, using the Promass meter. Turbine water meters and sucrose meters are also checked using a similar method.
Hydrostatic level transmitters are also used on the milk silos, but their purpose is monitoring. As soon as media is transferred in or out, the Promass cart is used. In fact, to ensure accurate reporting of incoming products, Steuben Foods installed a second permanent Promass on the receiving line to verify the truck scales. As a simple and cost-effective solution, the Promass 83 F Coriolis mass flowmeter accurately measures the content of each tank on filling and emptying.
Uncompromising flow rate measurement Burkert South Africa
Flow Measurement & Control
Bürkert’s FLOWave is a hygienic and safe flow measurement solution with many benefits for pharmaceutical or food production processes.
Read more...Keeping a close eye on product quality and purity Endress+Hauser South Africa
Sensors & Transducers
Colour measurements are necessary in many processes to avoid product losses and ensure safe production and batching. The Memosens Wave CKI50 process spectrometer from Endress+Hauser is a compact, robust and process-friendly device allowing quality, batching and phase checks to be performed by a single instrument for the entire visible colour spectrum.
Read more...Where simplicity meets reliability Endress+Hauser South Africa
Temperature Measurement
The new iTEMP TMT31 temperature transmitter from Endress+Hauser combines simplified selection, ordering, installation and operation with the highest reliability and long-term stability in one product.
Read more...Electromagnetic flow measurement Siemens South Africa
Flow Measurement & Control
The SITRANS FM electromagnetic flowmeters from Siemens deliver high-precision volume measurement of electrically conductive liquid applications – from water, wastewater and irrigation to hygienic processes and even mining slurries with magnetic particles.
Read more...Simple and efficient level measurement in the mining, minerals and metals industries Endress+Hauser South Africa
Editor's Choice Level Measurement & Control
Measuring devices in the mining, minerals and metals industries face the challenge of varying material states and long distances in measurement height. Endress+Hauser’s answer to these challenges is the new Micropilot family.
Read more...ABB unveils next generation of electromagnetic flowmeters ABB South Africa
Flow Measurement & Control
ABB has launched its latest generation of electromagnetic flowmeters, bringing unmatched accuracy, connectivity and flexibility to industrial and utility applications.
Read more...Precision measurement for ultra-pure water systems
Flow Measurement & Control
[Sponsored] Ultra-pure water (UPW) is essential in industries where even minor contaminants can impact product quality and process integrity. Anton Paar’s L-Cor Coriolis mass flowmeters provide a highly accurate and hygienic solution by directly measuring the mass of the liquid using the Coriolis effect, ensuring a high level of cleanliness.
Read more...Inline process solutions for gold mining Anton Paar
Flow Measurement & Control
[Sponsored]The extraction and processing of gold ore requires precision and efficiency to maximise yield and minimise losses. Automation and continuous monitoring of critical process steps are essential to ensure optimal production. Anton Paar offers advanced inline measurement solutions which enable full automation and real-time monitoring of key steps in gold extraction and processing.
Read more...Magnetic-inductive flow sensor ifm - South Africa
Flow Measurement & Control
The SMF magnetic-inductive flow sensor revolutionises liquid and creamy flow measurement. With IO-Link, it enables digital data transmission, eliminating blind spots in production.
Read more...Hygienic flow measurement for the food industry ifm - South Africa
Flow Measurement & Control
With the SMF magnetic-inductive flow meter, ifm offers a solution for the hygienic flow measurement of media with variable flow rates through a pipe, such as beer, milk or fruit juice.
printer friendly version