PET Food Processing - September 2018 - 64

OPERATIONS

pump are wearing out, but are not necessarily consistently
worn, then the volume of the pumping chamber will vary
causing a variation in weight from piece to piece. Catching
this issue early not only prevents downtime but also the expense of rising giveaway."
Blade wear on a grinder could indicate bearing wear, improper assembly or that the wrong plate is being used for
the type of product. "In grinder applications, most plants
don't wait for signs of wear, they change the plates and
blades at the start of every shift and check them midway
through the shift," Garber says. "Many processors change
the plates and blades on the grinders more often than we
would even recommend because the consequences are too
great - they're catastrophic if you have to recall product.
The cost of new blades is usually nowhere near the cost of
one hour of downtime on that line. It's worth the expense to
avoid the risk."

mation beyond production data such as hours of operation
that can help predict and alert operators to possible maintenance issues. Nick Manley, marketing manager, Bühler
Aeroglide, Cary, North Carolina, offers an example. "On
a dryer, for instance, alerts to upcoming requirements for
maintenance on the conveyor, drive systems, chain, fans
and burners, reduce unscheduled downtime by reminding
operators and maintenance personnel that critical components might need attention before they actually do."
Information can be gathered and stored in a database
and provided in custom reports or sent as alerts. Through
secure internet connections, the industrial internet of
things (IIoT) is poised to have far-reaching effects on pet
food processors according to Manley. "The capabilities
that smart and connected devices can bring to processors
should reduce unscheduled downtime to a minimum."
Bühler is already headed down this path with its new digital services products.

Data and diagnostics 24/7
Some equipment operating systems help processors track
maintenance requirements by providing equipment infor-

Predicting the unpredictable
Any mechanical device is a consumable and it's going to

CUSTOMIZING SOLUTIONS
TO MEET YOUR PROCESSING CHALLENGES
APEC has been engineering custom process solutions to solve the challenges of pet food manufacturers
since 1992. We understand that you work in an ever-changing industry. That's why we have continued to
innovate our process and control systems to improve your performance, quality and bottom line. Whether it's
from our extensive equipment line or a custom solution, you can rely on APEC for exceptional:

Dry and Liquid Coating | Weighing | Mixing | Batching | Blending

PROCESSING THE INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS

+1 (616) 374-1000 * www.apecusa.com
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PET Food Processing - September 2018

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