Problem Solving
Gentle handling of raw materials for spice blends and flavorings
In the production of spice blends and flavorings, numerous raw materials must be precisely dosed, gently conveyed, and reliably kept separate from one another. To achieve this, AZO combines pneumatic conveying systems with automated handling and dosing systems. This allows different raw material containers and recipes to be integrated into a seamless process—with the goal of ensuring product quality and reliably preventing contamination.
Precise dosing for a wide range of raw materials and formulations
Large, medium, small, and micro-sized components can be automatically fed into the mixing process. Depending on the system design, vacuum weighing systems, AZO COMPONENTER®, or AZO ShuttleDos® handle the automated weighing. This allows even complex recipes with a large number of different raw materials to be processed efficiently. In one implemented example, 250 raw materials are automatically supplied for approximately 2,000 recipes.
Gentle handling preserves the quality of the raw materials
Delicate spices and flavorings require particularly gentle handling during transport. Pneumatic suction conveying and—where required—dense-phase conveying, such as AZO® SaugPlus, enable gentle transport of raw materials over distances of up to 100 meters. This helps preserve the desired product properties during conveying.
Allergen Management and Safe Separation of Raw Materials
The allocation of raw materials to different internal silos, as well as specialized docking solutions, support the safe separation of allergens and non-allergens. A spill-proof gate on the container prevents uncontrolled material leakage during docking, thereby reducing the risk of cross-contamination. This helps ensure the required product safety even when raw materials and formulations change frequently.
Automated Container Handling for Flexible Processes
To automate the supply of raw materials, bulk material containers can be combined with automated guided vehicles (AGVs). The AGV automatically positions the required container at the respective dosing station and docks it to the dosing unit. This integrates raw material handling with automated dosing and reduces manual labor in the production process.
Flexible automation for a variety of production requirements
Depending on the number of raw materials, the variety of recipes, and process requirements, different automation concepts can be implemented and combined with one another. This allows solutions for the production of spice blends and flavorings to be flexibly adapted to different production structures and, if necessary, to incorporate liquid components.
