Grant Gerke

Automation World Contributing Writer

The reader, with its integrated antenna, reads the RFID tag information and forwards it via the ASM 456 communication module to the controllers that manage the subsequent processes. Photo courtesy of Siemens.

RFID-enabled pallets track lucrative whey powder products

A German dairy and whey producer continues its modernization drive with a plastic pallet RFID solution that connects to the company’s SCADA platform.

A primary sensor is located as close as possible to the pipe surface and a secondary sensor is at a distance from the pipe surface and serves as a reference sensor. Source: ABB.

Sensing technology measures liquid temperatures inside the pipe from the outside

One of the most elemental pieces in the changing digital landscape for food and beverage manufacturers is the need for robust sensing.

A mobile transport system, called Angus, moves produce to robotic production area for seeding, monitoring or harvesting.

Indoor farming benefits from robotics

Automation reduces traditional labor at indoor farms where produce grows in large warehouses near retail chains.

With the craft beer industry becoming more mature, Deschutes’ process optimization efforts should help create better margins. Image courtesy of Deschutes Brewery.

Deschutes Brewery’s new ERP creates one source of truth

Besides the manufacturing/production software options, Deschutes currently uses the food safety compliance, warehouse/inventory, purchasing and reporting analytics within the ERP platform.

More from Grant Gerke

System integrator ECS Solutions created a procedural and equipment view for JTM Food Group’s operators, based on ISA-88 standards. Image courtesy of ESC Solutions.

New plant cooks up manufacturing flexibility with automation

JTM Food Group’s greenfield plant in Ohio features advanced automation to optimize its batch processing applications and meet changing consumer demands.

With the integration of PI Vision, Illovo Sugar was able to provide real-time information for operators, promoting a healthy competition between operators. Photo courtesy of OSIsoft.

How a sugar producer found more capacity utilization

Striving to find more operational flexibility and utilization, South Africa-based Illovo Sugar implemented advanced analytics for its form/fill/seal packaging machines across five plants.

Hennig-Olsen has a 48 percent market share with consumers, but the company also has 55 percent of the foodservice segment in Norway and exports to Russia.

Ice cream producer finds sweet solution for increased operational efficiencies

Norwegian manufacturer modernizes its plant with an ISA-95 manufacturing execution system to increase production volume and capacity utilization.

The dough production line employs four robots and relies on 3-D vision sensing at the start of the conveyor system to aid the robotic pick- and placing- of various pizza dough sizes.

2 automation trends for 2019

Life-like gripper robotic technology and artificial intelligence/machine modeling solutions are becoming a reality in food processing applications.

Nestle Wagner now uses Getac's A140 Rugged Tablet to standardize data processes for production management at its pizza plant in Germany.

Rugged tablet helps digitize pizza production

In line with its continuous improvement initiatives and drive for digital workflows, Nestlé Wagner enlisted a rugged tablet to standardize data processes for production management at its pizza plant in Germany.

The distributed control system provides visibility into the tank farm for Caloy. The nut-oil producer has eight tanks, with four to offload finished product to trucks and the other for final mixing.

Nut oil producer unveils automation platform in its greenfield facility

Caloy Inc. creates a new business model for the refining of tree nuts to lucrative oils at its California plant, achieving tighter monitoring of its products in the supply chain.

The MES platform increases the data contextualization with the enterprise with granular level detail of product code, equipment, order, reason and other parameters.

Food producer increases throughput with modernization pilot

A large sauces and dips maker embarks on a pilot project at a 10-year-old plant to connect multiple business units and begin a journey to optimize supply chain, processing and packaging costs.

The milling process features multiple pieces of equipment located on three stories to clean the rice kernels for packaging.

Rice mill upgrades operations with modern SCADA

California Family Foods responded to the ever-changing food and beverage landscape by adding a new SCADA platform from Inductive Automation as part of a comprehensive plant upgrade at its northern California processing facility.

Olam International identified low-voltage motors for better remote monitoring with its digital pilot project and is now monitoring vibration, bearing health and cooling efficiency, among others.

Digital plant solutions support flexible manufacturing

Many food and beverage companies are experiencing growing pains with digital platforms, but manufacturing is still about asset management processes, selecting the appropriate technology solution and letting the workforce grow with these tools.