Non-destructive quality control

FT System, in partnership with the CNR researchers, Italy’s National Research Council, and the University of Padua, developed the L.Sensor.O2 quality-control instrument. The instrument utilizes laser spectroscopy technology in the gaseous phase for non-invasive and non-destructive measurement of oxygen in glass and plastic containers, the company says. Specifically, it uses low-power, class 1 lasers that pass a beam through the headspace of the container to measure oxygen without the need to perforate the container, it says. It can measure the percentage of oxygen in the headspace, the parts per million of dissolved oxygen, total pressure inside the container, partial pressure from carbon dioxide, and the content of dissolved carbon dioxide in grams per liter. In addition, the laser technology is able to measure oxygen regardless of container color, it notes.

FT System North America, 450 Satellite Blvd. Northeast, Suite D, Suwanee, Ga. 30024; 678/745-3709; ftsystem.com.

Easy openings

Enabling easy beverage opening for consumers, Closure Systems International’s (CSI) Aqua-Lok mini 26-mm tall cap (TC) provides 57 percent more grip surface than other 26-mm short-height profiles and was designed to provide an ideal combination of bottler savings and enhanced consumer satisfaction, the company says. The taller cap is fully compatible with the popular ultra-short-height 1914 PET bottle finish and is suitable for bottled water, ready-to-drink teas and other still beverages, it says. CSI’s new Aqua-Lok mini 26-mm TC closure also offers tamper evidence through an extended plug seal that provides band break prior to seal loss, it notes. The cap is made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for optimum taste and odor performance, and it can be colored to enhance brand marketability, it adds.

Closure Systems International, 7702 Woodland Drive, Indianapolis, Ind. 46278; 800/311-2740; csiclosures.com.

Automatic measurement

CMC-Kuhnke released its new Mars-EMS-1050 fully automatic shell measurement gauge at Metpack 2014, which took place May 6-10 in Essen, Germany. This gauge is designed to measure countersink depth; panel depth; and curl diameter, height and opening to assist with beverage end-making. It also is capable of pulling as many as 60 beverage shells from a feeder and automatically measuring their characteristics. The machine’s pneumatically and electronically controlled sensors automatically measure up to eight locations per end. After measurement, the shells fall into a collection hopper, and measured values are shown on the color display, which flags out-of-specification limits in red. This interface also allows the user to navigate through the gauge functions and transfer the information to data acquisition software. The fully automatic shell measurement gauge can be integrated directly with the production line to receive and measure shells without any operator intervention, or it can be used as a stand-alone gauge, the company says.

CMC-Kuhnke Inc., 1060 Broadway, Albany, N.Y. 12204; 800/689-0661; cmc-kuhnke.com.

Preventing the freeze

Spirax Sarco launched a new, compact, easy-to-install bydrain freeze protection liquid expansion trap for preventing pipe freezing, which can cause loss of production and possible safety hazards as well as create repair costs, the company says. The bydrain can be installed directly on the equipment or downstream from the equipment that needs to be drained, ensuring that it is accessible for inspection and maintenance, it says. In either location, the bydrain should be placed at the end of pipes, at low points, or any area where liquid could be stationary and therefore susceptible to freezing, it explains. This trap is made of stainless steel and functions as a fixed-temperature discharge trap that continuously monitors the temperature in the pipes, it says. The trap is firmly closed at 45 degrees Fahrenheit, but as the temperature of the liquid cools to 36 degrees Fahrenheit, the trap opens to discharge any liquid in the pipe, it says. It can be used for freeze protection for float and thermostatic steam traps, coils, tanks, water lines on docks, eyewash stations, safety showers, tracing condensate manifolds, condensate return lines, pressure-powered pumps, electric pumps and flash tanks, it adds.

Spirax Sarco USA, 1150 Northpoint Blvd., Blythewood, S.C. 29016; 800/575-0394; spiraxsarco.com.

Video seam monitor

Wilkens-Anderson offers its VSM II video seam monitor, a high-resolution camera and monitor to inspect can double-seam cross sections. The camera includes a solid state light source that produces a bright image of the can seam for evaluation and measurement, a toggle switch that selects crosshairs on either the X or Y axis, and an adjustable illumination and built-in calibration procedure, the company says.

Wilkens-Anderson Co., 4525 W. Division St., Chicago, Ill. 60651; 773/384-4433; wacolab.com.

Safe and sanitary

Charles Ross & Son Co. offers a 300-gallon sanitary holding tank designed for 75 psig internal pressure at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Equipped with a 50-psig baffled and insulated jacket, the tank is built to American Society of Mechanical Engineers Code Section VIII Division 1 standards and is registered with the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors. Its stainless steel type 316L wetted parts are polished to a 180 grit finish with all internal welds ground smooth and flush, the company says. Product is discharged from the holding tank through a pneumatic ball valve with a tri-clamp outlet and fail-safe spring return actuator. Passivated with
20 percent nitric acid solution, this tank also includes four internal baffles, a thermowell, and various size nozzles on the top head.

Charles Ross & Son Co., 710 Old Willets Path, Hauppauge, N.Y. 11788; 800/243-7677; mixers.com.

Corrosion-resistant alternative

GF Piping Systems, a division of Georg Fischer LLC, designed its Fuseal polypropylene corrosive waste piping system as an alternative to existing carbon steel lines used for soda fountain waste drainage. Carbon steel lines can corrode because of carbonated soft drinks’ carbonation and low, acidic pH levels, which can lead to leaks that require pipe replacement that can be both costly and inconvenient, the company says. The frequency of which the dispenser is used, type of liquid, oxidation, temperature and other factors all determine the speed at which corrosion will affect a steel pipe. Thus it is difficult to determine how long a given drainage system will last, making preventative maintenance harder, it notes. Fuseal has excellent chemical and corrosion resistance and will not rust, pit, scale or corrode, the company says.  In addition, the pipes can be installed above ground for easy integration into an already-installed soda fountain, it says.

Georg Fischer LLC, 2882 Dow Ave., Tustin, Calif. 92780; 800/854-4090; gfps.com.

EPA-approved transportation

Cat Lift Trucks introduced its new DP70N 15,500-pound-capacity diesel pneumatic tire lift truck. This heavy-duty diesel lift truck provides an 18 percent increase in fuel efficiency and productivity compared with previous generations, in addition to meeting Tier 4 interim regulation standards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the company says. It features a high-performance Perkins 854E 3-liter turbo-charged, four-cylinder engine that exceeds EPA Tier 4 interim regulations. The DP70N also features a fuel-saver mode, which limits the acceleration curve of the forklift, lowering fuel consumption by an additional 14 percent while maintaining overall efficiency and enhancing lift truck performance, it says. It also is equipped with a diesel particulate filter that is designed to passively burn off soot in the system as needed during normal operation. This prevents the operator from needing to stop operation for routine maintenance, it notes.  Also for easier maintenance, the DP70N notifies operators when forklift vitals such as critical engine oil pressure and coolant and transmission temperatures reach unsafe levels. The system automatically lowers maximum rotations per minute and slows travel and hydraulic speeds when the truck is not performing at acceptable levels, effectively reducing the potential for damage or costly repairs, it says. The easy-access engine cover and 500-hour extended service intervals make maintenance simple and less time consuming, it adds. For ergonomics, the DP70N features a three-section hydraulic control valve with fingertip controls, a full-suspension seat, and noise and vibration reduction features that help maximize operator comfort. The lift truck also comes standard with a hydrostatic steering system to help minimize operator effort and a raised floor mat for additional traction in the operator compartment.

Cat Lift Trucks, 2121 W. Sam Houston Parkway North, Houston, Texas 77043; 713/365-1000; cat-lift.com.

Chilled to perfection

Perlick’s 60-inch Dual-Zone Wine Center gives on-premise establishments the ability to dispense kegged wine at different temperatures. When configured properly, the system can dispense as many as eight different wines in two different temperature zones — one ideal for red wines and one for white wines. The system also features a factory-engineered wine keg dispensing system, full-extension shelves for standard wine bottle storage, and drawers for upright, open wine bottle storage. Like all of Perlick’s wine-dispensing products, the Dual-Zone Wine Center is Winecertified, which is Perlick’s guarantee that it is manufactured to properly store and dispense wine. The Dual-Zone also is available in a four-door, self-contained model (pictured) that can hold as many as 19 sixth-barrels of wine. In addition, the system can be custom ordered to enable remote dispensing through Perlick’s Century System. 

Perlick Corp., 8300 W. Good Hope Road, Milwaukee, Wis. 53223; 800/558-5592; perlick.com.

Enhanced visibility

Omnitracs Inc. announced its new Virtual Load View application. Virtual Load View delivers position and message data from authorized Omnitracs Mobile Computing Platform-equipped vehicles to approved third parties, enabling greater visibility into vehicles’ arrivals, departures and load status. It also offers one consolidated view of a fleet’s proprietary, brokered or subcontracted loads, eliminating the need to call contracted or third-party drivers regarding load status and location. In this way, fleets are able to take a more proactive approach to handling loads across carriers before an issue arises, which can help significantly improve service to both shippers and consignees. Virtual Load View automatically updates positions, load status and delivery confirmations in real time to further streamline the supply chain. By integrating this automated data into back-office systems, fleets now are able to make more timely decisions and reduce time and resources spent manually recording position, status and message information. The application also compares actual versus planned routes, stops and load activity duration to allow fleets to further evaluate performance and enforce consistent high-quality delivery standards.

Omnitracs LLC, 10290 Campus Point Drive, San Diego, Calif. 92121; 800/647-3325; omnitracs.com.

Handy carrier

PortaBrands North America devised a convenient way to carry two to four beverages at once. The new PortaDrink beverage carrier came to life as an alternative to pulp trays and already has grown in popularity in Europe, according to the company. It is designed to speed up sales, especially from multi-dispense locations, as foodservice operators can drop the drinks into the holes in the carrier, lift up the sides, fold together the handle, and distribute it to the consumer for one-hand carrying, it says. The design also is spill-proof in case of bumps while carrying the beverages, it adds. Available in two- and four-beverage versions, PortaDrink is lean on space, taking up approximately 90 percent less storage space than typical bulk trays, it notes. Plus, the carriers can be designed to highlight sponsorships, special promotions, brand names and logos, or other desired designs for additional branding.

PortaBrands North America, 1 World Trade Center, 121 S.W. Salmon St., Suite 100, Portland, Ore. 97204; 503/760-1222; portabrandsna.com.

Shedding light on safety

For added safety in the workplace, Larson Electronics released a new 150-watt explosion-proof light fixture with a safety cable suspension mounting option. The EPL-HB-150LED-RT-100-1523-SCAB light produces 12,000 lumens of light while drawing only 150 watts of power and can be operated on 100-277 volts, the company says. This Class 1, Division 1 and 2, and Class 2, Division 1 and 2, explosion-proof light fixture is constructed of a copper-free aluminum alloy that is powder coated for added durability, it explains. The light’s heat-dissipating design bolsters its 60,000-hour rated lifespan with 80 percent lumen retention, it says. Because the unit is constructed with LED technology, the fixture is compact in size and has no ballast, resulting
in a lighter fixture that also requires less maintenance to operate, it adds. The LED assembly produces 12,000 lumens with a color temperature of 6,000 degrees Kelvin and a color rendering index of 70, meaning it renders colors and details more accurately than high-pressure sodium or mercury vapor luminaries, it explains. This light also is equipped with 100 feet of cable with an explosion-proof 1523 plug, which provides operators an alternative to traditional hazardous location luminaries, it adds.

Larson Electronics LLC, 9419 E. U.S. Highway 175, Kemp, Texas 75143; 800/369-6671; larsonelectronics.com.