Meeting the needs of demanding food and beverage applications

For more than 20 years, Italian company AROL has been relying on stud type track rollers and other bearing solutions for the food industry from Schaeffler. The INA track rollers help to extend the operating life of high-speed container closure systems used for the capping of a variety of food, wine and spirits products.

Founded in 1978 in Canelli, Italy, AROL produces more than 700 customer-specific closure systems per year and has over 25,000 installed systems, making it the worlds largest specialist in customised capping solutions for bottles, jars, dispensers, canisters and other containers made from glass, metal and plastic.

AROL closure systems must function reliably under challenging conditions and in continuous operation. Clock rates of up to 100,000 units per hour and regular cleaning cycles using aggressive media require extremely rugged components that provide maximum efficiency and stability. Compliance with the strict hygiene guidelines of the food industry must be guaranteed. The requirements for the bearing solutions installed in the closure systems are equally high.

During the capping process, the linear movement of the capping heads is achieved by means of a rotating cam acting on stud type track rollers. Kinematic conditions require cage-guided stud type track rollers to reduce the pressure and stress on the mating track and to extend the operating life of the systems. It is also essential that all bearings are reliably sealed to prevent penetration of particles and the loss of bearing lubricant.

Michele Sonzini, Schaeffler technology centre manager in Italy comments: For AROL, performance and reliability have always been indispensable requirements for international success. This applies to all the components that AROL produces in-house or purchases for its machines. It also applies to relationships with suppliers. For over 20 years, AROL has relied on bearing solutions from Schaeffler and on collaboration that is always a partnership.

In particular, AROL relies on INA track rollers from Schaeffler. The INA KR-PP stud type track rollers have an optimised profile on the outside surface of the outer ring. This reduces the Hertzian pressure and edge loads created by tilting on the mating track, which in turn reduces wear between the outer rings outside surface and the mating track.

Stud type track rollers are also sealed on both sides by a three-stage seal with an axial sliding contact between the outer rings and the contact washers. This minimises wear and reduces grease consumption. Series KR-PP stud type track rollers are the ideal choice as standard catalogue products for the demanding requirements of the food, beverage and packaging industries. The seals effectively prevent loss of lubricant, which means the equipment can be operated without contamination from lubricant leakage and the lubricant remains where it is needed inside the bearing.

Another positive effect of the seals is that they protect the inside of the bearing from penetrating media. This significantly increases the service life of the bearing, which supports longer maintenance intervals. Optional solutions made from corrosion-resistant steel or with coatings to protect against aggressive cleaning agents and moisture are possible. The stud type track rollers are also easy to install due to the hexagonal socket on both sides.

Whether catalogue bearings or tailor-made, ready-to-mount units, the customers application and benefits are top priorities for all Schaeffler products. This includes freedom from maintenance, a reliable operating life, and perfectly matched components and sub-systems. Schaeffler also offers the right lubricants for bearings in food production, including NSF-H1, kosher and halal certified products.

Sensing solutions for food and beverage applications

Baumer is promoting its award-winning range of process automation sensors and instrumentation components. Among its solutions are products for measuring conductivity, level sensing, prevention of dry-running and detecting unwanted bubbles or level detection, regardless of the process medium.

Measuring conductivity in smaller sized food and beverage production facilities demands the most compact, yet robust sensors, and the PAC50 process sensor meets these requirements. It delivers high-precision measured values and very short response times in an ultra-compact design measuring 60mm and a display of only 32 x 25mm. Also, minimum size is matched by maximum robustness, offering high temperature stability up to 140C which allows for permanent and reliable use in food, SIP and CIP systems.

Smart level sensing is critical, especially in food processing applications which involve a wide variety of media, or frequent media changes. A key feature of the PLP70 level sensor is that it is suitable for liquids with low minimum conductivity for continuous level measurement applications (greater than >5 microsiemens/cm). With a response time of less than 100 milliseconds, the PLP70 sensor is especially suited to more dynamic processes which involve rapid level changes in filling systems which ultimately maximises raw material consumption and saves money.

Protecting pumps from running dry and detecting bubbles is where the PAD20 smart sensor excels. But it can also optimise energy efficiency of cooling and heating systems in industrial applications

For accurate level detection, regardless of media, the CleverLevel PL20 level switches utilise frequency sweep technology to ensure accuracy and consistency. These switches provide reliable limit detection without the need for parameterisation to a specific medium, so whether the process medium is liquid, paste-like, sticky or granular this sensor recognises them reliably and securely. The PL20 can also distinguish foam and liquid, as well as detecting separating layers.

Innovative materials and a hygienic design

Murrplastik will be showcasing the HygienicLine Dynamics a cable retraction system that completely dispenses with protective sleeves and opts instead for innovative materials and hygienic design. Using high quality stainless steel and blue materials ensures optimum FDA compliance, consistent hygienic design, long life and easy maintenance. The use of detectable material ensures a high level of production reliability, as direct action can be taken in case of complications.

With the HygienicLine Dynamics, the food industry is better equipped today to meet the challenges of tomorrow. In particular, the application with the Stubli TX200 HE robot, one of the most common models in food production, shows the potential of this worldwide innovation. Other robot models are also expected to benefit from this technology in the near future.

Hygienic flow meter with IO-Link

Automation systems in the food manufacturing and processing sector depend on data from huge numbers of sensors. Sensor specialist ifm electronic offers a huge range of sensors in hygienic versions designed specifically for food industry applications, with the most recent being the SM Foodmag a magnetic-inductive flow sensor designed for hygienic flow measurement of media such as beer and water-based fluids.

With its robust stainless steel design and the ability to detect the smallest deviations in volumetric flow quantity, ifm says this sensor sets a new standard in the food and beverage industry.

Equipped with IO-Link, the sensor is said to be the first of its kind to enable digital data transmission from the process, eliminating the last blind spot in the digitalised, transparent production process. On site, the display itself and the all-round visible status LED provide information on the current status.

The sensor detects the current flow rate, total volume and flow direction, as well as the presence of the medium (often referred to as empty pipe detection). It also transmits conductivity and temperature to the control system and IT level. This can reduce the need for additional measuring points in the system.

The standard M12 connection ensures a fast, waterproof and error-free connection to the data infrastructure. Standard installation dimensions and a flexible choice of seals and process adapters make it easy to integrate into existing systems. The app-based menu structure and guided installation make parameter setting a breeze.