Promtek to showcase ‘transformational’ process control at Foodex
Automation specialists Promtek will demonstrate how its process control solutions for smart recipe handling and monitoring real-time power consumption can potentially transform a business, at this year’s Foodex exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham.
Any food manufacturer will tell you that process control is a vital part of a production facility, but as processing becomes ever more complex do they really access all the necessary information to make the right changes? Promtek will be demonstrating the firm’s StoraWeigh control system and Condor technology which can provide a strategic overview into all aspects of production, including ingredient reformulations, climate impact and energy costs.
Condor’s all in one platform uses predefined algorithms to accurately calculate energy efficiency. A web-based modular integration with rigorous user specific security properties, Condor provides customised batch reports with key information by connecting to multiple systems such as process control, ERP or PLC/SCADA.
As well as energy usage, Condor also allows security management and monitoring of raw material parameters such as tolerances, densities, families, cross contamination, authorised routes, mixer settings and many more. As consumers become ever more conscious of healthy eating it enables food manufacturers to create, substitute and manage ingredients and ultimately finished products.
Promtek’s system provides seamless traceability and tracking of materials for recipes, with real-time monitoring of lot information. Condor checks barcodes, lot codes and expiry dates across the production process for accuracy and efficiency to help prevent food waste. In the event of an alert, production is halted until any issues are resolved.
An integrated platform with StoraWeigh enables all the information to be collected and managed in one place, creating trusted weights and measurements of ingredients and materials, recipe control and menu scheduling. This can be customised to suit the changing needs of a food manufacturer.
StoraWeigh is one of Promtek’s signature products. It has been developed by the Staffordshire-based business over many years to manage process control across all levels of production. The StoraWeigh suite of systems and graphics integration generates customised production control and support. Other benefits include ingredient traceability and cross-contamination prevention.
Data produced from these process controls can be used with confidence for labels, accreditation, accounting and stock levels. StoraWeigh also has built-in logic to control and monitor a wide range of equipment as part of a batch process or independently.
Lani Scholtz, Promtek’s marketing manager, says: “We’re thrilled to be attending Foodex for the first time. We’re known for our ability to work with recipes – it’s not a simple on-off switch and every customer has different approaches. If changes need to be implemented, we can interpret the data collected to spec better equipment for process management.”
Collecting and analysing data from production lines can provide an accurate representation of how a factory is performing. Promtek has the solutions to help production companies realise the full value of the information available, leading to ingredients and processes being refined in order to reduce food giveaway or extend shelf life – just two positive examples among many others.
To find out more visit Promtek on Stand H111 at Foodex Manufacturing Solutions, 24-26 April 2023, NEC Birmingham.