Ishida develops weigher for high-speed production

Weighing and packing line supplier Ishida Europe has launched what it claims is its fastest and most accurate checkweigher.

The DACS-Zenith has been developed specifically for high-speed food applications with low target weights such as biscuits and dairy products. As result, Ishida has tried to combine state-of-the-art checkweighing technology with speed, accuracy and reliability. The company claims that the machine is capable of identifying even the slightest deviation from pre-programmed parameters.

Weighing has become an important ID point in the process flow, and a means by which a manufacturer can trace a particular product. Each formulation or batching step within a production order provides an opportunity to identify and/or mark a particular component.

This is especially important considering the traceability regulations about to come into force in the EU. This legislation, which comes into force in the EU in January 2005, states that food manufacturers have to be able to show that they can trace products right through the food chain.

As a result, there is a great deal of innovation within the food-weighing sector, and Ishida believes that its DACS-Zenith represents a significant technological development.

Manufacturers can choose from two models, each suited to different target weights. In applications with pack weights between 6g and 600g such as flow-wrapped biscuits, yoghurt pots, vitamins and mail inserts, weighing speeds of up to 600 wpm can be reached with accuracy within 0.02g.

Even for heavier products of up to 3kg, weighing accuracy remains high (+/-0.1g) at speeds of up to 400 wpm.

Using electromagnetic weighing sensors, Ishida employs digital filter technology to eliminate external noise and interference, resulting in improved weighing accuracy and optimum performance, even under difficult factory conditions.

Quick-release conveyors, smooth contours and a large colour touchscreen display reduce downtime for cleaning and product changeovers.

The DACS-Zenith comes with the option of a built-in camera, allowing instant pack recognition. As a result, manufacturers benefit from reduced downtime as product changes can be made in seconds.

The new weighers can also be specified with a fully integrated metal detection system.