Technology/IT | IDM
8 2017 | international-dairy.com · 33
Fruit juice 4.0
Touch screen IPCs in digital-based production processes
It is getting juicy down at Lake Constance:
Since July 2015, Gropper, the dairy and
fruit juice producer, has been filling nonfrom
concentrate juices and smoothies
for the retail trade from its Stockach base.
The interface between SAP, the in-house
developed front-end interface and the user
comes in the form of touch screen industrial
PCs (IPCs) from CAITRON, used for the
production, logistics and time-sheet processes.
Installation abstract
• Production control and monitoring with hygienic
food IPCs
• Paperless production thanks to digital production
notes
• Malfunctions recorded using IPCs for subsequent
benchmarking
• Simply linking of barcode scanners to IPCs in
the logistics areas
• IPCs operable with gloves thanks to PCAP
multi-touch technology
• User-friendly time-recording for employees
using IPCs with LEGIC RFID readers
As early as the actual planning phase for the
production site opened in Stockach in 2015,
Gropper was already evaluating IPCs from
various vendors. The defined objective was to
identify a device suited for use in the hygienesensitive
food sector that is fail-safe and easy
for users to operate, so as to ensure flawless
processes. "In the end, we went for CAITRON’s
CS series touch screen IPCs", says one of Gropper
IT managers. "We were particularly persuaded
by the very high level of touch quality
of the screens, and the range of integrated
interfaces. The IPCs are delivered with all additional
devices fully integrated, including the
LEGIC RFID reader. Other plus points in this investment
decision, included the extremely appealing
design of the devices."
Digital production control
With the help of the networked IPCs, the fruit
juice producer has completely eradicated the
use of paper in the production environment.
Employees start and stop production using a
touch button on the touch screen, and they can
retrieve the job data centrally stored in SAP any
time they want. And at Gropper, the production
notes are no longer delivered on paper, but are
instead simply displayed to the production employees
on their screens. In this way, Gropper
ensures that employees do not overlook any
important work steps. "These digital production
notes can be found everywhere within the site",
explains an IT manager. "For example, our packaging
line employees can use their screens to
call up the packaging material prescribed for the
job in hand. This helps prevent errors."
Gropper also uses the food IPCs in its production
area for reporting purposes. If a malfunction
brings the filling plant to a standstill,
the production system automatically sends an
error message to the screen of the connected
IPCs. This is the signal to the relevant production
employees to start identifying the error.
Once the plant is operationally-ready again,
the employee categorises the reason for the
failure using a drop-down menu. The duration
of the down-time is determined by the IPC
automatically. Gropper uses this data for comprehensive
OEE analysis and benchmarking, so
as to improve the level of system availability.
A glance into the production area: Gropper
produces non-from-concentrate juices and
smoothies at its Stockach site.
Gropper's employees use a touch screen
to easily start and stop jobs at the filling
plant.
With the aid of a bar code scanner, Gropper’s
employees enter the number of loaded pallets
into SAP via the CAITRON IPC.