Advanced Batching for Greater Flexibility and Modular Manufacturing
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Batching is a critical part of the manufacturing process in which raw materials are turned into finished products through an ordered set of procedures.
Effective batch control ensures that products ranging from bread loaves to cookies are uniformly consistent.
Manufacturers have a number of options to consider when selecting a batching solution to optimize throughput and ensure product consistency.
Mettler-Toledo details the benefits of a dedicated batch controller in its new white paper, entitled “Advanced Batch Control.”
Product consistency is essential for brand integrity and consumer satisfaction and loyalty. Manufacturers rely on batch control to manage different types of materials and transfer them onto weigh platforms as well as weigh each ingredient.
A weighing system that accurately and reliably measures ingredients and transfers them to batches is a critical part of the manufacturing process, and it can be automated, manual, or a combination of both.
Manufacturers have traditionally relied on batch solutions based on a programmable logic controller (PLC) or a distributed control system (DCS).
While these systems are well-suited for processes in which end-products are fixed, they lack flexibility for times when there are ingredient switches or recipe changes.
Introducing such changes requires new code writing and additional start-up time, and this can tax the limited resources of small- to mid-size operations.
Manufacturers can simplify batching by choosing a dedicated controller that combines both weighing and transferring functions within a single unit.
A stand-alone batch solution with built-in industry control standards allows for modular production across multiple locations and plants. It also simplifies user interfaces and minimizes operator training requirements.
Mettler-Toledo’s white paper provides an overview of the benefits of dedicated batch control and the process requirements that need to be considered in selecting and implementing a controller.
