REVOLUTIONIZING FOOD PRODUCTION: PNEUMATIC CONVEYING AND PACKAGING IN THE AGE OF AUTOMATION

Food, like water, is essential to life. Whether for nourishment or pleasure, food is an integral part of our lives. It has the power to comfort, nourish and connect us with others. Even beyond our personal lives, food production is one of the most significant industries worldwide. Dry food staples like sugar, flour, and grains are recession-proof and always in high demand. Magnum Systems provides advanced solutions that help protect food quality, consistency, and safety.

In the world of pneumatic conveying and packaging systems, companies like Magnum Systems design-build custom solutions for those dry food staples mentioned in addition to salt, nuts, oats, granola, rice, spices, seasonings, toppings, coatings, cereal, coffee, tea, powdered milk, and much, much more.

“The food segment is vast as it's everything from bread to snack food to prepared meals to food additives to confectionary delights, even the sandwich you find in the plastic triangle container at the gas station,” says Mike Abare, Technical Sales Manager at Magnum Systems.

Food Production Demands a Higher Quality of Work

For many reasons, food manufacturers typically require faster-paced projects due to shifting consumer demands. As such, they seek suppliers who can be responsive to their project timelines and specifications. Equipment manufacturers must possess the discipline to provide timely projects often with a high level of sanitary design. Trusted partnerships must be formulated to provide a path to success.

“System design plays a big part in getting it right,” says Abare. Equipment in the food industry requires equipment with greater sanitary finishes than other dry industrial materials,” says Abare. The design must consider metal selection and finishes even down to the welds. Selection of inline valves to avoid harborage points potentially causing infestation, bacterial or viral growth, or cross-contamination are other considerations. System design must also address allergens like nuts, dairy, or gluten.”

The food industry must comply with strict regulations regarding the handling and packaging of food products. Food safety is a top priority for the sector since contaminated food can cause severe health problems for consumers. Therefore, using hygienic materials and sanitary equipment design is crucial. Magnum Systems offers industrial pneumatic conveying and packaging solutions designed for the food industry, ensuring products are transferred and packaged in a clean, contaminant-free environment. Their solutions are designed to mitigate fugitive dust to reduce the opportunity for cross-contamination prior to packaging.

Automation in Food Conveying and Packaging
Automation is an integral part of the food industry and has many benefits. For example, automated and computerized systems can perform repetitive tasks quickly and accurately without compromising hygiene and sanitation. They also produce less waste, which is essential for a sustainable future. Magnum Systems integrates automation into their designs, offering clients fully integrated material handling systems with precise controls, real-time monitoring, and reliable operation.

In addition to being sustainable, hygienic, and efficient, Magnum Systems' solutions are customizable to meet specific client needs. Clients can work hand in hand with Magnum Systems' expert team to develop custom designs that fit their operational requirements. In a world where every food producer has unique flavor profiles and packaging needs, Magnum Systems provides tailored solutions, including flexible packaging strategies, process controls and designs.

There are many ways automation can positively impact food production:

| Consistency and Efficiency
One of the most significant benefits of automation in food production is consistency. Automation ensures that every product is the same in quality and quantity. This is crucial in industries like bakery and confectionery, where inconsistencies in ingredients or measurements can affect the final product adversely. Automation allows for an improved steady state providing greater production efficiencies eliminating errors, reducing production time, and lowering production costs.

| Improved Safety and Hygiene
Automation can decrease the likelihood of contamination and human error in food production. Automated machines can reduce the need for human contact with food, minimizing the risk of contamination and increasing hygiene.

| Cost-Effective
Investing in automation can lead to long-term cost savings in food production. Machines can operate for longer periods, reducing the need for manual labor and saving energy. Automation also minimizes waste by ensuring products meet quality control standards, saving costs and improving efficiency.

| Enhanced Production Capabilities
Automation technology can aid in the production of various food products simultaneously. It also allows companies to increase their production rates to keep up with the market’s rising demands. Automated machinery can also handle products efficiently that were not possible for employees to handle, such as delicate pastries.

| Improved Traceability
Automation has also made food production more traceable. Food companies can track the entire production process of their products, from raw materials to the finished product. This data can easily be shared with suppliers, regulators, and consumers, ensuring transparency across the entire process.

Automation is here to stay. As technology advances, automation will continue to play a crucial role in the vast food industry, helping ensure accessibility of high-quality food. Magnum Systems’ advanced designs and customized solutions allow customers to automate their material handling processes, optimize production and enhance food quality. Contact us to learn how Magnum Systems’ automation solutions can help grow your business.