Microwave thermometry used to gauge processing temperatures
thermometry technology to gauge the temperatures of foods as they
are being processed.
To maintain the consistency, quality and safety of their products, plants need to control temperatures carefully throughout a batch's production run.
Loma Systems claims its Celsius Advanced Temperature Management Technology for the food industry can help improve quality assurance, removing human error and cutting financial costs. Using the technology overcomes problem of temperature variations within a product, providing data on the desired equilibrium temperature.
Loma Systems first produced prototype models for Northern Foods in the UK and released the product in the mid-2004. Now the company is spreading its market reach to the North American continent said David Hewitt, responsible for the company's sales and marketing of Celsius.
He told FoodProductionDaily-USA that the product is being used by manufacturers such as Greencore, Northern Foods, Unilever, Samworth Brothers, Kerry Foods, McCain's, OSI and the Hygrade Group among others.
Celsius measures the thermal radiation naturally emitted by all organic materials. Celsius takes these thermal signatures from every area of the product. The technology allows thousands of readings to be made from any area in the product, depending on the processes being used in a production run.
The machine then averages the readings, which produces the preferable equilibrium temperature. By this method all temperature variations are picked up.
"This is done with a greater accuracy then probes or infrared in far less time and with no human error," Loma Systems stated in a production presentation.
The company calculates that use of the technology can result in an average payback of seven months for food companies.
"Celsius eliminates product and package wastage, replacement probes, reduces labour and training costs while increasing productivity," the company claimed. "As well as this Celsius provides significant energy savings. Manufacturers no longer need to overcompensate for current inaccuracies by over chilling, freezing or cooking their products."
Celsius has an accuracy within 0.2°C either way, no human error and can produce readings in five seconds.
Celsius records detailed results electronically, allowing the data to be accessed by Ethernet connection or to be downloaded to disc. A barcode reader helps identify the operator or shift name and the product barcode for traceability.
The technology was originally used for searching the stars by picking up heat signatures such as planets and stars. Microwave thermometry technology was then modified for medical purposes. It enables the clinical detection and diagnosis of hot spots in tissue, helping to identify tumours and arthritic joints.
