Interpack 2014
Weighing and packaging equipment firm Ishida showcased an enhanced version of its FLEX-Grader for meat and poultry batching and grading, which uses Ishida’s weighing technology to grade at high speeds, according to specified weights, minimum weight or number per pack. Dependant on the product, top speeds of 235 packs per minute can be achieved, said the firm. A new x-ray system - IX-G2-4027-H - for the detection of bones in fillets was also on display. The system provides an effective quality check for manufacturers producing meat fillets and boneless chicken pieces, said the firm. According to Ishida, it is particularly suited to foods where "the density of the product and the potential contamination is similar, for example the bone and meat of a chicken which have almost the same density". It can also be used for products that are overlapped in a pack or bag, such as in bags of frozen chicken nuggets or sausages. Also on display were its high performance single and dual-lane tray filling lines. "The industry wants minimum downtime and quick cleaning," said Torsten Giese, marketing manager at Ishida.