Automated dosing simplifies recipe formulation, says Mettler Toledo

In most plants, due to the scale of the containers being used, the mixing of large quantities of ingredients such as flour and yeast for a cake recipe formulation is carried out manually by an operator in a remote location. However, this reliance on the operator's diligence and dexterity to ensure all the ingredients have been added in the correct quantities makes it difficult to achieve recipe consistency and minimise spoilt batches, the group said. Roland Bosshard, market manager for Mettler Toledo Switzerland told FoodProductionDaily.com that the automated dosing functionality of version 1.9 of FormWeigh.Net helps remove operator related errors and inconsistencies by providing a means of measured control at each step of recipe formulation. Seamless process​ "Version 1.9 optimises the recipe formulation system through the placement of a network linked terminal at a remote food dosing container's location to guarantee seamless process flow and log all information, thereby removing the traceability gap that is inherent in manual methods,"​ said Bosshard. Measuring procedures represent critical control points all along the industrial food supply chain as they play a vital role in quality control. "The two speed valve control of the IND560 weighing terminal means that fast and accurate dosing of large quantities of food components is now done by the touch of a button, eliminating the need for manual estimation of measurements and enabling compliance with recipe ratio requirements,"​ he added. The IND560 weighing terminal is housed in a slim, polished stainless steel enclosure. It also features a large and easy to read vacuum fluorescent display and can control up to four dosing stations, according to the manufacturer. Payback​ According to Bosshard, processors can receive a return on investment in three to four months with this version of its recipe formulation system due to the benefits it brings in terms of cost savings, improved efficiency and the minimisation of rejects and waste from fewer user errors. "The new version of FormWeigh.Net also includes a First Expire First Out (FEFO) functionality to improve warehousing and reduce wastage of raw materials by ensuring plant personnel employ recipe components with the earliest expiry date first,"​ claims Bosshard. "The technology can also alert employees to any insufficiencies in raw material supply in the warehouse,"​ he added. The manufacturer said that its FormWeigh.Net technology can be used in recipe formulation in a huge variety of food applications from bakery to dairy to chocolate.