Weighing at the state of the art
MULTIHEAD More robust, efficient, hygienic, "green" and faster by a good 15%. Ishida opens its Woodgate site to present the multihead CCW-RV weigher and the latest achievements in the field of software, user interface, safety and energy saving. E.P.
The new achievements with the CCW-RV multihead weigher, officially presented by Ishida as the machine that sets new industry standards in speed, precision, flexibility and hygiene; but also the integration of the offer of Japanese multinational - now in its 120th year of existence and under the fifth generation of owners - which offers itself as a supplier of complete and turnkey lines for food packaging, including controls. These subjects presented to customers and press in April and May at an open house at the headquarters of Ishida Europe Ltd. Woodgate, Birmingham (UK).
The event, run with efficiency and warm hospitality, allowed the hosts to reveal a market approach as well as a product offer of a company going through a vibrant phase of growth and transformation, showing how it was tackling, with renewed tools, the challenges posed by operating globally and in a position of absolute leader: according to internal estimates, the company’s installed number of machines, more than 40,000 units, is three times higher than that of its closest competitor.
The new RV
Food of all kinds, from snacks to fruit and vegetables, but especially fresh and frozen (fresh produce and meat the main applications): the Ishida RV multihead was in the first place designed with fresh food in mind, that, according to the company’s marketing analyses and experience "in the field", will continue to be an important outlet area. For this characteristics such as speed and hygiene have been increased significantly compared to previous versions of the CCW line, top of the range of Ishida weighers. Its performance - Graham Clements, Managing Director of Ishida Europe states - also enables its use in other sectors, and hence future possible ventures on new markets, like in pharmaceuticals for example, could well be in the offing.
One thing above all: a RV 14 head ensures accurate weighing to a tenth of a gram, and at the same time, can operate at 210 weighments per minute, with a speed increase of more than 15% compared to the best previous model. This result, which does not in any way compromise the accuracy of the operations - Ishida technicians strive to state - is due to the sum of several factors: «First of all, the vibrations can be switched on and off much quicker during product feeding, therefore enhancing the control of the product flow. This makes the product drop into the hoppers much faster, thus increasing weighing speeds by up to 17%. We have also improved the software, digital filtering, the compensation of the weights derived from the combined movements of the various orders of heads... ». As for the levels of hygiene, these have been further improved via a meticulous review of all construction details where dirt may lurk, the increase in the slope of the machine body (9 degrees) and the feeder covers (6 degrees) to enhance run-off of water and cleaning residue. The RV also responds to IP67 standards on contact with liquids and vapors and therefore can be washed down with high pressure.
Smart and green. The redesign hence has involved all the elements of the weigher, with the goal of attaining new targets also in terms of robustness, "intelligence" (in this case understood as easier and faster interaction, also remotely) not to mention ecological friendliness, all this without any increase in cost for
the customer. The man-machine interface, for example, has been equipped with a touchscreen that considerably simplifies start-up operations, the machine can also be operated wirelessly with the various smart devices available on the market. As far as eco-compatibility is concerned, this is thanks to the choice of construction materials and to the modular management of power supply, the user is allowed to choose from three different power modes - full, half and echo - which further reduces energy consumption by up to 20% (and helps to speed up return on investment).
Checkweighers and controls
If Ishida’s reputation is above all related to multihead weighing machines, over the time its product range has expanded to the point that it covers the entire flexible packaging and tray packaging process, right up to end-of-line with a major presence in the checkweighing and pricing segment.
Most of the equipment that make up the Ishida systems has been made by a small group of partner suppliers, with which Ishida has built up a relationship of faith bolstered by rigorous supply contracts integrated by Ishida-made hardware and software. The solutions of greater significance, presented during the open house at Woodgate, feature new checkweighers and the latest X-ray inspection systems and include a range of equipment critical control points, starting from tray sealing, all the more critical in the case of packaging in protective atmosphere.
In these machines too, Ishida’s edge lays in the accuracy and flexibility of the functions. An example? Line checkweigher DACS-G is equipped with load cells able to pass, with the touch of a button, from 600 g to 1.5 kg of capacity, with a tolerance of 0.2-0.5 g, or (in the larger model) from 3 to 6 kg with tolerances from 1 and 2 g.
Ishida in a nutshell
• Consolidated turnover for 2012 1 billion dollars, with 2,800 employees; turnover in 2012 for Ishida Europe of 100 million pounds (more than 152 million U.S. dollars), with 450 employees (+20% over the last three years). The average annual investment in R&D is equal to 5% of turnover.
• Founded in 1893 in Japan and still led by the Ishida family (the current CEO, Takahide Ishida, is part of the fifth generation) in 1972 the company invented multihead weighing. To date the company can boast 40 thousand units installed.
• Since 1985 Ishida has presided over the EMEA area with direct office and factory at Woodgate, close to Birmingham (UK) set up in 1995. Ishida has subsidiaries and sales offices throughout the world; in addition to those in Japan and Europe, the other production sites are in Korea, China and Brazil, all to various extents being upgraded.
At present the fastest growing markets in the EMEA area are Russia and Turkey, while the rest of the world Ishida is working to consolidate its presence in particular in South America and the Far East.
• Ishida provides complete turnkey packaging lines. Its product portfolio includes: multihead weighers, checkweighers, packaging lines for snacks, X-ray inspection systems, filling-sealing machines for trays, distribution systems, "smart" packaging, seal testers, data capture software, strip pack applicators, graders and rotobatchers.
• The pre and post sales service is key to Ishida’s offer and is provided by local teams. Particularly emblematic: the availability of spare parts is guaranteed for at least ten years.
