The digital meat factory of the future – new interface optimises whole process chain

Bizerba presents the CWL Eco with WS-FOOD 1.0 interface at IFFA 2010

Balingen, 20th April 2010 – Novelties for the meat processing industry: machines and control devices can now be connected via plug and play uniformly with existing IT systems, using the new interface WS-FOOD 1.0. Additionally a convincing, OMAC conforming database has been created. All information is secure and comparable. At IFFA 2010, 8th to 13th May, Bizerba will present the new WS-FOOD 1.0 interface combined with the in motion scale CWL Eco (hall 6, stand C60).

Under the direction of the Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbauer (VDMA) (German Engineering Federation), meat processors, the Food Processing Initiative in Bielefeld (FPI) and various machine suppliers, including the technology manufacturer Bizerba have developed a uniform IT interface. In future independent systems will be able to be integrated into the process chain of the meat sector without a problem, and the costs for individual engineering will be avoided. Breakdown and start up times will also be drastically reduced. At the same time an OMAC conforming database was created using the new communication technology.

“The WS-FOOD 1.0 is from our point of view the start of uniform communication between BDE systems and scales and labelling devices“, says Dieter Conzelmann, Director of Industry Solutions at Bizerba. He is convinced that the company will build on the new standard of operating data compilation in the future: “We have been actively involved in the development, as we have a long tradition in the standardising of data interfaces and protocols .“

For the manufacturer of consumer goods there is the advantage that they only need to observe the use of standards for one machine and then they can expect a standardised interface for operational data compilation that they know, as well as a uniform “look and feel“. In this way communication will be possible according to the plug and play principle.

It all began around two years ago: the VDMA and FPI held their first discussion about the theme of “the digital meat factory of the future“. The aim of a uniform standard interface was defined and a project group was founded. WS-FOOD is therefore based on the established Weihenstephan standards for drink filling plants and packaging plants. It encompasses the physical interface for connecting machines with a data compilation system as well as the data itself, which will be provided by the machines themselves.

At IFFA 2010 Bizerba will present the in motion scale CWL Eco with the WS-FOOD interface. “It enables dynamic weight calculation and control of goods and material flows and can be flexibly integrated into existing conveying systems thanks to its compact construction – in parcel shipment, sorting systems and supply lines“, continues Conzelmann.

Product recognition takes place via sensors, for example a barcode reader. CWL Eco can calculate weight and volume, control filling quantities and piece weights and check goods for completeness and quality. The in motion scale therefore achieves a conveying speed of up to two metres per second in calibrated operation and has various programmes such as counting, tolerance control and serial error recognition. The configuration occurs using the provided software configuration tool. You can also optionally set it up so that data is sent directly to the user’s mobile phone by text.

Of course the CWL Eco with calibratable data storage for weight, volume and accompanying data is also compatible with other Bizerba printing systems, for example the logistics labelling systems GLM-B and GLM-L or the protocol printer can be connected. Bizerba supplies the CWL Eco in two individually adapted building stages: with or without frequency convertor sequence and band control – for stand alone operation or connected to a system.

For all applications which can not be covered with the standard product, the Bizerba industrial applications team is prepared to develop mechanical, control technology and data technology solutions.

About Bizerba:

Bizerba is a worldwide operating technology company offering professional system solutions for weighing, labelling, information and food field engineering in the sectors of retail, the food and manufacturing industries and logistics. Sector-specific hard and software, high-performing network compatible management systems as well as a wide range of labels and consumables as well as business services ensure the transparent control of integrated business processes and a high level of availability of Bizerba-specific service features.

Worldwide, Bizerba has a presence in over 120 countries with investments in 41companies in 23 countries and subsidiaries in 56 countries. Company turnover in 2008 stood at around 433 million euro. The company’s headquarters – with around 3100 employees – is in Balingen; further manufacturing plants are located in Meßkirch, Bochum, Vienna (Austria), Pfäffikon (Switzerland), Mailand (Italy), Shanghai (China), Forest Hill (USA) und San Louis Potosi (Mexico).

For enquiries, please contact:

Bizerba GmbH & Co. KG
Claudia Gross
Director Global Marketing and Communication
Wilhelm-Kraut-Straße 64
D-72336 Balingen
Germany
Telephone +49 7433 12-33 00
Fax +49 7433 12-5 33 00
E-mail: claudia.gross@bizerba.com

nic.pr
network integrated communication
Patrick Schroeder
Coburger Straße 3
53113 Bonn
Telefon +49 228 620 43 84
Telefax +49 228 620 44 75
email: patrick.schroeder@nic-pr.de

This release was published on openPR.