Mettler Toledo updates software for product inspection

ProdX, 1.2.1 collects qualitative data and uses central control of the systems to speed up product changes in food businesses. It also ensures compliance with food safety and documentation regulations.

Through the upgraded software, manufacturers can remotely set up product inspection systems on the production line saving time during product changeover.

ProdX version 1.2 was reported on by our sister site FoodProductionDaily in 2013.

Meeting food safety demands​

The data management software optimises product inspection data collection and monitoring to meet food safety demands, said the firm.  

It enables connection of inspection technologies to single or multiple remote processing and control internal locations to streamline data analysis which makes demonstration of due diligence and product traceability easier, it added.

Peter Spring, product manager for ProdX Inspect, said networking the systems reduces downtime during changeovers and machine maintenance, minimising costs.

“In this increasingly competitive market, manufacturers in food manufacturing and processing industry are looking for ways to maintain profit margins by boosting the efficiency of their production processes.” ​

ProdX lets manufacturers track products through the manufacturing process, giving them access to information regarding product rejects and machine performance from the networked inspection systems.

The firm said it allows operatives to do real-time corrective action to boost processing line efficiency.

The user interface provides early warning of adverse product quality and machine performance to prevent issues such as foreign body contamination before they become a problem.

For example, the software records x-ray images of non-conforming packs, for inspection records and defects identified by the system are highlighted by the software.

ProdX v1.2.1 allows the user to export records to a Comma Separated Values (CSV) or Extensible Markup Language (XML) file.

Weighing terminal​

Mettler Toledo also unveiled a weighing terminal for smaller businesses to have consistent net fill-quantities of packed products.

IND890SQC allows fill-quantity controls, as required by the German regulations on pre-packaged food (Fertigpackungsverordnung​), to be monitored through random sampling.

It also provides messages that make it possible to intervene in packaging processes such as overfilling so expensive overfull packs and underweight packs that break the law are avoided.