Problem Solving
Automated Raw Material Handling for Confectionery Production
In the production of confectionery, powdered and liquid raw materials must be supplied reliably, hygienically, and in exact accordance with the recipe. AZO’s automated raw material handling system combines storage, screening, dosing, weighing, and pneumatic conveying into a seamless solution. This enables reliable operation even at high cycle rates and ensures reproducible production processes.
Precise dosing for consistent formulations
Large, medium, and small components are automatically dispensed according to their packaging and required quantities. Vacuum-conveyor scales handle the weighing of powdered raw materials, while a separate scale measures liquids such as glucose or oils. Dosing screws, rotary valves, and eddy-current screens ensure controlled feeding and dosing. This allows raw materials to be fed into the respective process as needed and in a reproducible manner—an important prerequisite for consistent formulation quality and high formulation accuracy.
Reliable separation of allergens and non-allergens
The pneumatic suction conveying system is designed as a multi-tube system. Depending on how raw materials are assigned, different conveying routes can be used to separate allergens from non-allergens. This allows raw material logistics to be specifically tailored to the requirements of confectionery production and reduces the risk of unintended mixing.
Hygienic raw material handling with reduced dust exposure
Screening and pneumatic conveying ensure a closed-loop, low-dust raw material feed system. To meet high hygiene standards, the system is equipped with the ViwateQ Finish. The resulting surfaces, which are particularly easy to clean, facilitate wet cleaning in particular and support hygienic production conditions.
Traceable and controlled production processes
Very small quantities can be pre-weighed using the operator-guided ManDos weighing station and fed directly into the mixer, mixing vessel, or conche. At the same time, the AZO process control and visualization system controls and monitors the manufacturing process and documents the relevant process data. This ensures the traceability of recipes and batches and supports the tracking and tracing of the production process.
