Inspection equipment is a vital part of every beverage manufacturing equipment line. But even in the most careful of circumstances, there’s a chance that foreign matter could find its way into the product, corrupting its purity and exposing the manufacturer to potential legal headaches.  

Some of the top beverage inspection concerns, according to Nicholas Fox, chief executive officer at 3D X-ray Ltd., a subsidiary of Image Scan Holdings plc in the United Kingdom, are bacterial contamination stemming from inept packaging and/or seal integrity; metallic foreign body contamination (i.e. nuts, bolts, washers) from the processing line itself; glass or plastic shards or chips from the packaging itself; fill-level issues (over/under-filling) that cause standards issues; and “sabotage” involving the intentional placement of hazardous items such as syringes and glass bodies within drink packages.

Certain types of beverages are more difficult to inspect than others. “For visual inspection, the main problems are non-transparent products (fruit juice, for example) and opaque packaging. The vast majority of beverages are water and additives, so packaging is the most common issue,” Fox says. “Glass chips from the glass bottles are very difficult to identify because of the small objects masked by a large amount of fluid and possible structure of the glass bottle. Low-density (plastic) contaminants like PE and PP are very difficult to identify. No off-the-shelf x-ray system can detect this but it may be possible using specialized x-ray systems.”

When deciding which inspection method is right for your processing atmosphere, it’s wise to remember that the extreme environment in which beverages are processed can be unfriendly to sensitive, high-tech equipment. Although most production and technical managers are aware of these issues, many have learned the hard way. Fox says there are a few basic features beverage manufacturers should consider when shopping for inspection equipment. First, look for something with enclosures that carry a minimum IP65 rating. They are more likely to cope with pressure jet wash-down. It’s also wise to seek a unit with no flat, horizontal surfaces or gutters that can collect cleaning water.

One of the most important features ought to be robustness. “[A primary] attitude in this industry is that the system has to survive without much or any maintenance,” Fox says. Often the most robust machine will win even when it is less capable, as long as it survives the environment.”

In July, InspX LLC, a joint venture between Key Technology, Walla Walla, Wash., and Peco Controls, Fremont, Calif., produced the ScanTrac 200 X-Ray System designed to inspect packaged products for foreign material contamination, detect packaging imperfections and confirm contents.

ScanTrac is designed to detect product contamination and package assembly errors at conveyor speeds up to 700 feet per minute, inspecting as many as 2,200 containers per minute. According to the company, the system detects foreign objects such as metal, shards of glass, stones, bone, rubber and other dense foreign materials that can contaminate products packed in cartons, cans, plastic and glass. Simultaneously, the system detects product voids and under-fills, as well as damaged containers. It can also verify that package components and product composition conform to specifications, providing real-time analysis, detection, and rejection to automatically remove out-of-tolerance product from the production line.

ScanTrac is able to detect minute contaminants using effective low-energy x-ray and sophisticated image-processing software. The machine is CE mark certified and features a NEMA4/IP65 enclosure that allows operation in wash-down areas.

The TapTone 1000, from TapTone Package Inspection, North Falmouth, Mass., is built to provide inspection of plastic, metal and glass containers for physical defects, fill level, leak detection, pressure and vacuum. The unit can inspect as many as 2,000 containers per minute, and can feature between one and four primary inspection sensors (acoustic, proximity, compression, duel compression, force, X-ray or laser). The unit also features a large touch-screen and up to seven digital inputs. Its stainless steel control enclosure is NEMA 4X and IP65 rated.

And finally, Monitoring Technology Corp. (MTC), Fairfax, Va., recently unveiled its 20/20 HindsightgigE, which transforms the notion of high-speed inspection video into an easy-to-use plug-and-play industrial device. In the event of a line-jam or process upset, video can be scrolled back and replayed to view the event in slow motion.

The unit’s gigabit Ethernet (gigE) technology provides ease of use, while supporting recording speeds in excess of 2,000 frames per second for as long as six hours. The full-duplex continuous buffer allows a user to both record and review video simultaneously, and its software interface and hardware design makes high-speed video available to everyone in a plant at all hours of the day. BI

Penta Water, Carlsbad, Calif., has updated its bottle label and logo, making the Penta name bolder, and its trademark cluster of molecules broken apart to give them the appearance of movement. The product is now described as “ultra-purified premium drinking H2O, with the phrases “arsenic free,” “chlorine free,” and “MTBE free” moved to the side. “Chromium VI free” and “Super Pro” were dropped after research revealed many consumers didn’t comprehend their significance. In addition, a new purple cap will replace the previously clear cap.

In conjunction with the label changes, a new case design is in the works, and the 1-liter bottle will soon match the 0.5-liter bottle with a wave pattern on the lower half.

The National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR), Sonoma, Calif., recently announced a Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) recycling rate of 21.6 percent and a collected volume of 1.03 billion pounds for PET post-consumer containers in the United States for 2004. This is the highest recycling rate for post-consumer PET containers since 2001, and represents record recycled PET collection volumes.

Recycled post-consumer PET is used in a variety of applications, including fiber for carpeting and apparel, strapping, and food and non-food containers. “The record level of collected post consumer PET containers is a sign of the success of curbside and other collection programs in the United States. NAPCOR encourages everyone to continue to recycle their PET containers and to support the increasing end uses for this material,” says Gerry Claes, director, environmental programs for Graham Packaging, and chairman of NAPCOR.

Contract manufacturer Rainforest Nutritionals Inc. recently turned to a small Slim Stick package for a single-serve, on-the-go flexible package to market Ciena Corp.’s Veri Macana nutritional supplement in Japan. The company worked with Technical Help in Engineering and Marketing, Marlton, N.J. (T.H.E.M.), which holds the exclusive North American distribution rights for the Slim Stick package.

Made of high quality barrier film, the Slim Stick is ideal for packaging dry, free-flowing products such as powdered beverages, sugar and seasonings. The barrier film keeps air and moisture out, and the individual-sized packet ensures that each serving is fresh. The Slim Stick uses 40 percent less film than traditional three- and four-sided seal envelope packages, so it is less expensive to produce and can be use for specialty manufacturers, start-ups and other businesses with low volume needs that want cost-effective, premium packaging.

Canadian Club Whisky, Courvoisier Cognac and Sauza Tequila are getting ready for the holiday season with value-added packaging. Consumers can purchase Canadian Club 6-Year in a commemorative poker bottle and gift box; a commemorative bottle along with a poker hints and tips CD necker; a traditional 6-Year bottle along with branded rocks glasses or the traditional bottle in a gift box with Canadian Club gift wrap. Canadian Club Reserve comes with a deck of Canadian Club playing cards, and 50-ml. bottles in branded mesh bags.

Courvoisier VS is being offered with two highball glasses, while VSOP is being sold with two Courvoisier-branded rocks glasses. A 375-ml. bottle of VSOP also will be packaged with 50-ml. bottles of Courvoisier Exclusif and XO Imperial.

Sauza Tequila Tres Generaciones Añejo is being package with two Sauza-branded sipping glasses, while Tres Generaciones Plata is being offered with 50-ml. bottles of Sauza Reposado and Sauza Tres.

The second annual Label Industry Global Awards were given in September at a reception featuring 750 suppliers, converters and trade associations. The R. Stanton Avery Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Avery Dennison, went to Lars Eriksen, Nilpeter A/S, Denmark. The Award for Continuous Innovation, sponsored by Labels & Labeling, Label & Narrow Web, and NarroWebTech, went to Gallus Ferd, Ruesch AG. And the Award for New Innovation, sponsored by Gidue and HP Indigo, went to MPS Systems. The European Converter Award for Continuous Innovation, sponsored by Xsys, went to Skanem. The next Awards will take place in conjunction with Labelexpo Americas 2006, which will take place in Chicago on Sept. 11-14, 2006.

Super Target stores in 14 states are set to introduce  new four-packs of Fetzer Valley Oaks Chardonnay and Merlot in lightweight, unbreakable l87-ml. PET bottles. Known as Ready To Go! packs, the wine is expected to be on store shelves in November. The four-packs feature colorful photos and graphics showing consumers at the beach, a party, or spending time together. The rollout will be accompanied by new eight-case display racks to show off the purple, pink and green carton graphics and make it easy for consumers to find.

According to Fetzer, the single-serve size has been growing faster during the past year, based on Nielsen data, than traditional wine bottle sizes, and screw-caps are gaining broader acceptance as well, particularly in alternative packaging designed for busy lifestyles.

U.S. packaging machinery shipments reached $5.344 billion in 2004, a 9.3 percent increase from the $4.889 billion in equipment shipped in 2003, according to the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute’s (PMMI) 11th Annual Shipments and Outlook Study. All 17 of the machinery categories that PMMI tracks in its annual review experienced growth in 2004. Double-digit growth was experienced in seven of the 17 categories.