The solution is also available as an automation upgrade which can be retrofitted to installed and existing SIG filling lines.
Digital recipe management enables automatic recipe synchronization across all relevant parts of the filling line including the downstream. For manufacturers, this means a faster change to the next lot or product, more flexibility in the production process, and ultimately helps ensure a smarter and more connected filling plant.
Stefan Mergel, senior product manager equipment at SIG, said, “In today’s food and beverage plants, production lines need to be more flexible, agile and intelligent to handle new challenges and demands. This can only be achieved by securing greater asset optimisation, which means configuring the optimal long-term infrastructure to flexibly handle any operational demand. And by ensuring intelligent recipe and job handling throughout production.”
SIG’s new built-in capability also means the latest downstream equipment for SIG filling lines can now make automatic format and volume changes. SIG said this integration ensures manufacturers can utilize the full flexibility potential of their filling machines.
SIG’s digital recipe management is enabled through the PLANT 360 Connector. The monitoring and control solution was designed to optimize food and beverage production by gradually integrating all plant processes and systems into one platform, no matter the equipment, supplier or PLC used.
Mergel said, “With SIG PLANT 360 Connector you can integrate the complete filling line – including R-CAM, filling machine and downstream – into the customers’ digital platforms. This ensures you can gain full bi-directional connectivity from shop floor to the top floor.”
Recipe management in a filling plant comprises several processes, including defining the product category to be filled and in which packaging format, as well as the number of packs needed and which closures to use. To date, many manufacturers have relied on paper-based recipe management processes. This handling not only results in more manual work but leaves manufacturers vulnerable to the risk of human error.
SIG said bi-directional digital recipe management was developed through its solution-based Smart Factory platform – a drive to deliver IoT-enabled systems and technical services that transform filling plants into connected factories delivering greater efficiency, flexibility and quality.
