Emerson launches laser technology to detect product leaks without slowing production

28 Aug 2018 --- In response to industry demand for increased quality in food and beverages at every level, Emerson has introduced the Rosemount CT4215 Food and Beverage Leak Detection system. The Rosemount CT4215 is the first quantum cascade laser/tunable diode laser (QCL/TDL) continuous, inline detection system designed to help assure quality and safety, maximize production volume and decrease product waste for food and beverage products.

“In an industry being driven by an increasing consumer awareness of freshness and safety, manufacturers need solutions that allow them to assure these qualities while maintaining, or even increasing, efficiency,” says Peter Watmough, Global Leak Detection Product Manager at Emerson Automation Solutions.

“The Rosemount CT4215 provides packagers with an easy-to-install, easy-to-use assurance of freshness and safety. For the first time, food and beverage packagers can measure every package and bottle for leaks without having to compromise their production speed.”

The machinery tests the seal and integrity of every bottle or package on a production line, detecting leaks at a sensitivity as low as 0.3 mm and automatically rejecting any defective bottle or package without slowing down production. This is in contrast to the traditional practice of testing occasional grab samples, which can leave a manufacturer vulnerable to low quality, unsafe food or beverages, reduced profitability and damaged reputation, according to the company.

The Rosemount CT4215 installs directly on the food or beverage production line in a compact, self-contained unit, according to the company. A wide variety of customizable sampling heads are available for any package type including trays, pouches, bags, bottles and boxes.

The patented QCL laser technology measures CO2 and other gases used in food and beverage packaging. A high-flow vacuum pump draws air from around the package or bottle and delivers this air to the measurement cell. If gas from a leaking product passes through the measurement cell, it will absorb some of the laser light. Less laser light reaching the detector means there is a leak. Any leak detected will trigger rejection of the package or bottle. The system requires few consumables, is low-cost to operate, and needs only regularly scheduled maintenance. It is easily installed on both new and existing production lines.

“The Rosemount CT4215 brings any food or beverage packaging facility up to current consumer and supermarket demands quickly,” Watmough concludes.