KROHNE's OPTIMASS takes the biscuit

One of the UK's best known biscuit manufacturers has installed two KROHNE OPTIMASS Coriolis mass flowmeters to overcome a problem of ensuring exact amounts of ingredients are added during the manufacture of biscuits when the viscosity of these materials changes with temperature.

Measured amounts of syrup and fat are mixed together during the production of ginger biscuits at the company's manufacturing plant.  Accurate measurement of these ingredients previously had been difficult to achieve because their viscosity can change significantly, causing particular problems during summer and winter months.

Despite using jacketed lines and fluid heaters, the flowmeters previously used by the company were not sufficiently precise.  Their "paddle" design measured volume rather than mass of ingredient.  This meant that, at extremes of viscosity, too much or too little ingredient were being added.  Actual masses could vary by as much as 20 per cent and lead to batches being scrapped.

The two KROHNE OPTIMASS mass flowmeters measure the precise amount of fat and syrup being pumped from vessels into the mixer irrespective of the material's viscosity.  An output signal from the meter is fed to a PLC (programmable logic controller) which controls valves that feed the ingredients.

"The OPTIMASS flowmeters enabled the company to achieve much tighter process parameters," said David Freeman from KROHNE.  "They have enabled it to reduce waste and increase production throughput.

"The units were also extremely easy to install, without the need for specialist services."

Wellingborough-based KROHNE's OPTIMASS Coriolis flowmeter was the first of its kind to incorporate a single straight tube design.  It is manufactured from materials that conform to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines and complies with EHEDG (European Hygienic Equipment Design Group) and 3A standards.  The meter is available with a wide range of industry standard hygienic process connectors which makes it ideally suited for use in food applications.