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Sensor-based solutions for food processing industry - Food and Beverage - Food
Application example from food processing: The three tasks of sensing, analysis and sorting are what has driven the food processing industry to be the fastest growing sector. EVK is a developer of industry-relevant applications which utilise Chemical Imaging Technology to ensure quality and safety in food production.
The high priority placed on food safety makes food sorting a very demanding application. High classifi cation and spatial accuracy are required to eliminate any chance that slightly defective products or small foreign materials (e.g. glass shards or metal wires) will reach the customer. It is therefore the case that the reputation and financial well-being of food producers depends on the effectiveness of the food inspection and sorting systems they use. The complete surveillance of food quality, from sensor-based sorting of raw materials, in-line inspection during production and final inspection before packaging, is rapidly becoming an imperative in today’s high standard food industry.
Problem
To date there exists no in-line inference method for the determination of fruit ripeness covering the whole product stream.
Solution
Hyperspectral Imaging can be used to quantitatively determine fruit ripeness in real-time, 24/7. This can replacemore traditional spot checks and lab-based analysis that are discontinuous and slow. Real-time quantitative data of fruit ingredients such as water, sugar and other SSC (soluble solids concentration) can be interfaced with existing PAT (process analytical technology) to optimise grade sorting to reduce costs and ensure high product quality.
Technology
Near Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging offers the degree of classification accuracy necessary for Food applications, by directly measuring the chemical molecular composition through the absorption of light (spectroscopy).
EVK’s portfolio of sensor-based sorting technology includes Colour, Hyperspectral and Inductive sensor systems, which can be used individually or, with Sensor- Fusion, can be combined to form a powerful sorting application that can process multiple material types.
In food industries, foreign objects and problem materials are an issue of great safety concern and must be removed.
Problem
In-line critical control point analysis (HACCP) and selective removal are a costly problem for food producers.
Solution
Through decades of experience gained in sensor-based analysis and sorting of many different types of materials and food products. EVK’s in-line real-time inspection technology, offers a reliable advantage when removing dangerous foreign objects from quality product streams.
EVK HELIOS camera systems and EVK SQALAR software, offer a practical sorting solution that removes problem materials using a combination of smart cameras and precise ejection units.
Technology
Near Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging offers the degree of classification accuracy necessary for Food applications, by directly measuring the chemical molecular composition through the absorption of light (spectroscopy).
EVK’s portfolio of sensor-based sorting technology includes Colour, Hyperspectral and Inductive sensor systems, which can be used individually or, with Sensor- Fusion, can be combined to form a powerful sorting application that can process multiple material types.
Detection of foreign materials and defective products is a key component of HACCP hygiene management in food production processes. Foreign material removal from a product stream is a key capability of HELIOS camera systems (which is supported further in software with EVK SQALAR). An application example from the poultry industry is the wooden breast defect.
Problem
Wooden breast defect is a growth defect of chicken breasts which, although not dangerous, is undesirable for the consumer. This is a problem that costs billions of euro every year for the chicken production industry to fix. This is usually done by using manual sorting lines to remove defective breasts and thereafter extract lesser cuts to recuperate some profit margins.
Solution
Detection of the wooden breast defect is not possible with colour cameras, and neither is it possible with direct correlations to NIR spectra alone. The measurement variability makes it impossible to readily assign good and bad quality. In fact, this inspection and sorting task is only possible by analysing multiple chemometric features quantitatively and using logical combinations thereof, to classify wooden breast defects correctly.
Technology
Near Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging offers the degree of classification accuracy necessary for Food applications, by directly measuring the chemical molecular composition through the absorption of light (spectroscopy).
EVK’s portfolio of sensor-based sorting technology includes Colour, Hyperspectral and Inductive sensor systems, which can be used individually or, with Sensor- Fusion, can be combined to form a powerful sorting application that can process multiple material types.Technolgiebeschreibung
Problem
In walnut production, an important quality parameter is the degree of rancidness – which is caused by natural walnut oils degrading over time.
Solution
The solution is to find correlations between accurate laboratory measurements of rancid walnuts and hyperspectral images. From this a calibration is constructed that enables HELIOS hyperspectral cameras to quantitatively determine the degree of rancidness, in-situ and in real-time. This combination of laboratory accuracy and precise inspection and ejection, of rancid walnuts, can be applied round-the-clock to all product streams.
Technology
Near Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging offers the degree of classification accuracy necessary for Food applications, by directly measuring the chemical molecular composition through the absorption of light (spectroscopy).
EVK’s portfolio of sensor-based sorting technology includes Colour, Hyperspectral and Inductive sensor systems, which can be used individually or, with Sensor- Fusion, can be combined to form a powerful sorting application that can process multiple material types.
