Live at Anuga FoodTec: Antares Vision presents All-in-One food inspection tech

28 Apr 2022 --- At Anuga FoodTec 2022, Antares Vision is presenting its All-in-One food inspection and quality control technology. The machine enables in-line inspection and quality control for food in one machine with a full array of inspection controls made possible by multiple technologies.

We speak with Paolo Gilberti, sales executive at Antares Vision, live from the show floor about the new technology.

“What makes the All-in-One machine unique is that it is small, short, smart and you have all the inspection and technology that you need for food production in one machine. With this machine, you are more efficient by using just one human-machine interface to control the entire process.”

Food companies can now meet diverse quality requirements with this solution. The All-in-One series combines multiple inspection controls into single machines to meet different quality requirements, such as regulatory compliance, container integrity, detecting micro-leaks and contaminants, weight control, and verifying labeling and other information.

The All-in-One begins “a new paradigm” for quality inspection innovation for food by balancing the need for multiple in-line controls with space optimization and production organization. 

Food companies can now meet diverse quality requirements with this solution, says Antares Vision.

Data management
Gilberti explains that the All-in-One machine enables combined data collection.

“You can collect all your needs in just one machine. This saves space, time and costs. However, this isn’t all because Antares Vision focuses on digitization and digital factories.”

“Now you have an example of a machine [the All-in-One] where all the data is collected in the same database.”

Detecting micro-holes
Gathering all the company’s unique technologies in one machine was a considerable challenge, adds Gilberti.

The first All-in-One models combine inspections required by regulations with innovative applications that enable food companies to:

• Check for the presence of micro-holes in packaging: All machines have an innovative in-line system to detect micro-holes. It is applicable to both trays and flow packs and does not require changing line speed or the gas composition used for product conservation. Based on IR spectroscopy or gas sensors, it selectively, quickly and accurately identifies the presence of target molecules coming out of the package, indicating a micro-hole. It is possible to use CO2 as target molecules for all products with modified atmosphere packaging, alcohol for the bread and bakery sectors, and flavorings used in some products.
• Check for the presence of foreign bodies: X-rays are used to detect fragments of glass, bone, metal, plastic, or stones that may have accidentally ended up in the product during the production process or as raw material leftovers.
• Check the product weight: This is fundamental to avoiding food waste, monitoring and optimizing production line efficiency, and complying with regulations (for example, EU Measuring Instruments Directive metrological approval).
• Check the seal: Utilizes hyperspectral technology to detect the presence of food in the seal in transparent, colored, and opaque packaging.
• Check labels and codes: Prevents products with labeling errors (for example, incorrect expiration date or lot code) or other incorrect information from reaching the market.

Applications The All-in-One begins “a new paradigm” for quality inspection innovation for food.
When asked what packaging solutions the All-in-One machinery can be applied to, Gilberti says: “We can apply this machine to various containers, regardless of the material present – carbon dioxide, alcoholic liquids as preservatives or chocolate and coffee flavor.”

“Antares Vision supplies to its customers a unique environment starting from the inspection systems like the All-in-One to the possibility of supplying a complete data platform for advanced quality analysis.”

Antares Vision Group-Food, thanks to the expertise of the FT System and Pen-Tec, which specialize in inspection controls and have been active in the F&B industry for more than 20 years, offers a “unique” multi-technology portfolio – from laser and hyperspectral spectroscopy to vision and weight control and X-ray technologies – to guarantee excellence in quality control and satisfy the requests of all supply chain stakeholders.

By Natalie Schwertheim