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Welcome... Bienvenue... Willkommen... Benvenuto... Bienvenido... Welkom |
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While food scares continue to make the headlines, manufacturers behind the scenes are working tirelessly to minimise the threat of contamination reaching consumers. In a bid to take control of the contamination issue, major retailers are putting pressure on their suppliers to prove they have safeguards in place to prevent contaminants slipping through the net.
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Loma is delighted to announce that the AS1200 entry-level checkweigher has been awarded R51 accreditation for its robust and accurate performance. This joins the approved Loma AS5000 and AS1500 checkweighers and confirms its commitment to deliver high quality, value for money, premium equipment to European customers.
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 AS1200 checkweigher |
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The AS1200 is not the only Loma product to achieve industry recognition. Loma Scientific’s Celsius system has recently been awarded accreditation from CCFRA (Camden and Chorleywood Food Research Association), the UK’s largest independent research and development organisation for the food and drinks industry.
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 Loma Scientific's Celsius |
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Greetings from Russia - the largest country on earth which spans eleven time zones and two continents. Famous for vodka, the red square and the Kremlin, Russia is a nation of enormous diversity.
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The articles in full |
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There has been a surge of activity over the last few years to protect consumers against food contaminants. The General Food Regulation, which was adopted by the European Union in 2002 and was enforced in the UK in January 2005, means that food businesses must immediately withdraw food and drink from their shelves if they believe that the necessary food safety requirements have not been met or if there is threat of contamination. From there the competent authorities are informed and relevant steps are taken with the food manufacturer. Indeed, the General Food Regulation is a criminal sanction, and those food businesses that fail to comply may face prosecution.
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In addition to this, from January 2006 it will be a legal requirement that all food suppliers adhere to HACCP. For manufacturers, it simply isn’t worth the risk to not have the appropriate safeguards in place. Metal detectors are an obvious and cost effective solution and should already be an integral part of manufacturers’ due diligence processes. In addition, X-Ray inspection systems deliver the ability to detect a wider range of contaminants, including dense contaminants such as glass and rubber.
To help manufacturers meet HACCP controls, Loma’s IQ2 range can be fitted with its PVS (performance validation system), which automatically prompts the operator to test the performance of the metal detector at pre-set intervals, according to HACCP principles. This system does not rely on the operator to verify the test results and only the specified test samples can be used. This unique feature means that the test results cannot be falsified and are automatically recorded by the system. |
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Ultimately, if operators are supported with the necessary equipment, the updated regulations won’t pose a problem. There are numerous products on the market to suit every type of buyer and in the long run, the return on investment is more than worth it.
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The AS1200 system was awarded R51 approval by the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML), an executive agency of the DTI, following a series of rigorous examinations to assess reliability, accuracy and functionality. Regarded as the definitive European standard for automatic catchweighing instruments, the R51 is essential for all checkweighers used on the food production line where the final product is intended for the European market.
The AS1200 is ideally suited for the packaging and food industry due to its robust weighing platform which is ideal for average weights measuring up to 1.2kg. Its functional stainless steel design offers easy integration with existing lines and, with its fast weighing speeds, provides efficiency and reliability all within an affordable price. |
 AS1200 checkweigher |
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Alan Johnson, product manager at Loma comments, “Receiving R51 approval on the AS1200 adds that quality stamp required in the European market, allowing customers to enjoy the benefits of this equipment with the peace of mind that the right standards are met.”
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The CCFRA undertakes research and development for food and drink manufacturers throughout the UK and is a well renowned and respected body within the industry.
Throughout the five-month period, numerous scientific tests were carried out on Celsius to examine the product’s performance under a range of industry conditions. Tests included monitoring the repeatability and accuracy of temperature measurement on various food weights, temperatures, positions, shapes and packaging, and examined what the effects on the accuracy of food temperature measurement were, if any, when environmental temperatures were changed. The hygienic design of the system was also evaluated and most importantly, a comparison of Celsius against other methods of temperature measurement, such as electronic probes, was made. |
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Based on these examinations, CCFRA concluded that Celsius delivered outstanding results. Throughout the varied range of scientific tests, Celsius provided an accurate, repeatable and meaningful measurement of product temperature. It also delivered a true and impressive measurement of temperature over a range of industry relevant conditions.
Celsius excelled in providing a number of distinct advantages when compared to other methods of temperature probing techniques. For example, the results confirmed Celsius’ overall ease of use as it required only a minimal amount of operator training, therefore reducing the level of operator errors and downtime. Conventional temperature methods require high levels of skill and training to ensure a true and representative temperature measurement of the food. |
 Loma Scientific's Celsius |
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In terms of the time it takes to record a temperature, probes need to equilibrate and stabilise to the temperature of the food, which can take a few minutes. Celsius, however, was able to provide accurate readings within just a few seconds with no adverse effects introduced by environmental temperatures or human error. Another benefit of Celsius above probing techniques is the cost benefit. As Celsius uses non-invasive and non-destructive measurement methods, the costs associated with discarding food products after measurement is minimised.
Roy Salvidge, Sales Manager at Loma Scientific concluded: “CCFRA’s assessment has confirmed Celsius’ key benefits and we are delighted to receive recognition for the product, which is the result of years of research and development to provide top level technology for food manufacturers.” |
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Torquil Mackintosh, Export Area Manager, manages Loma’s office and distributor networks in Russia, as well as distributors in Scandinavia and Eastern and Central Europe. LLC Filuet CIS employs over 80 staff and operates within the engineering and supply chain sectors. The company’s expertise in installing and maintaining end of line equipment within their engineering division meets Loma’s objective to provide a comprehensive service package to its Russian customers.
The requirement for inspection systems has significantly increased in recent times as suppliers have to meet the HACCP guidelines imposed by their multinational customers. These customers are predominantly based in the meat, confectionery, fresh/frozen vegetables and soft drinks industry, where metal detection systems and checkweighers are the equipment of choice. |
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Feedback and enquiries If you no longer wish to receive Loma News, please email us on lomanews@loma.com For further information on Loma's range of products and services, visit www.loma.com |
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