Adeco Project Engineering BV West Africa Limited

Nigerian Breweries PLC, Lagos Brewery – Empty Bottle Inspector (Inline II IR)

Genuine high-tech for all:  the long-standing benchmark for a continuous empty bottle inspection on only one square metre of floor space is now available based on the HEUFT SPECTRUM II.  The modular HEUFT InLine II IR achieves an unprecedented level of automation, detection, manipulation and operational reliability and is ideal for craft brewers, wine bottlers as well as other SMEs who have limited space available and high quality standards.  The compact system combines a proven design and sophisticated detection technologies with the performance and self-explanatory user guidance of the new generation.

    • Inspection Solutions
    • Nigerian Breweries PLC
    • 2024
    • Empty Bottle Inspector, Heuft, NB Plc Lagos

Overview

Your entry to the complete inspection of empty bottles on a HEUFT level.

Genuine high-tech for all:  the long-standing benchmark for a continuous empty bottle inspection on only one square metre of floor space is now available based on the HEUFT SPECTRUM II.  The modular HEUFT InLine II IR achieves an unprecedented level of automation, detection, manipulation and operational reliability and is ideal for craft brewers, wine bottlers as well as other SMEs who have limited space available and high quality standards.  The compact system combines a proven design and sophisticated detection technologies with the performance and self-explanatory user guidance of the new generation.

 

Function

Optical base inspection

Covering everything: a continuous complete inspection of the whole base.

Film, cigarette ends, insects but also glass splinters and cracks: the HEUFT InLine II IR carries out an optical complete inspection of the bottle base in order to detect foreign objects and defects reliably. An LED illumination without reflections or shadows and specially positioned high-performance cameras even make transparent and reflecting faults visible. The HEUFT reflexx² image processing system combines and analyses the detection pictures in real time and makes a specific teach-in possible. Serious defects and foreign objects on the base of the bottles to be filled are therefore detected in good time and clearly distinguished from harmless aesthetic blemishes.

 

Extensive finish inspection

Finding finish faults:  safety around the bottle opening.

Defects, cracks, rust rings, contamination and chips on the bottle finish:  the HEUFT InLine II IR carries out an optical inspection of the complete finish and underchip area of each individual empty bottle in order to identify such faults reliably.  The range of functions and the detection accuracy when examining the delicate area around the bottle opening can even be further extended by means of optional add-on modules (see below).  Thus the compact device meets all the safety and quality requirements.

Continuous sidewall inspection

Inspecting all around: no blind spots.

Contamination, defects, cracks or inclusions: anyone wishing to detect such quality flaws reliably cannot afford to do without an all-around inspection. After all the sidewalls of the empty bottles should be covered completely. This is ensured by a harmonious LED illumination which prevents shadows and reflections in the detection pictures on the one hand. Thus the inspection of the complete bottle volume is already achieved in low speed ranges when there is a sufficient gap between the containers with the standard device which is only one metre long. Additional optical modules for a 360° sidewall inspection (see below) can be integrated in the infeed and outfeed of the HEUFT InLine II IR for higher line outputs and even more precision. Each empty bottle is purposefully rotated between the individual detection stations so that it can be continuously examined from all sides. Blind spots in the detection pictures put together by the HEUFT reflexx² are therefore ruled out.

Residual liquid detection

Tracking down lye, oil and varnish: effective protection against product contamination.

Caustic lye, oil or varnish:  even minute amounts of residual liquid seriously threaten the safety of the end product.  The system has two different methods in order to detect and remove the empty bottles in question before the filling process:  it identifies residual lye using high frequency technology (HF) and oil and varnish with infrared technology (IR).  The IR detection, safely enclosed, is directly integrated in the compact device together with its own LED illumination panel.  The HEUFT fluid module for the reliable detection of health hazardous lye remains can be installed easily and using little space directly on the bottle conveyor.  The entry-level device for inspecting empty bottles therefore provides effective protection against product contamination due to harmful residual liquid.

Product monitoring and self-tests

Playing it safe:  exact product tracking and regular self-tests.

Always knowing the current location of a particular product:  each one is tracked precisely for this.  This ensures that none remain uninspected.

Read more…

The integrated reject verification checks that each product identified as faulty is really removed.  Standard test programs guarantee a regular examination of the detection performance.  Network-based continuous documenting and long-term archiving of the results.

 

Outcome

The Empty Bottle Inspector (EBI) offers a comprehensive inspection system tailored to the needs of Nigerian Breweries, Lagos Brewery providing solutions to key quality challenges:

  • Base Inspection: The bases of the bottles are inspected for foreign objects and cracks before they proceed to the filler for filling. This step ensures that only bottles meeting the required quality standards are used for the filling process.
  • Finish Inspection: The bottles are thoroughly inspected for defects, cracks, rust rings, contamination, and chips before advancing to the filler. This rigorous process ensures that only high-quality bottles are filled with the product, maintaining safety and quality standards.
  • Sidewall Inspection: The sidewalls of the bottles are inspected for contaminants, defects, cracks, and foreign objects, utilizing a 360-degree view. This thorough inspection ensures that only quality bottles are filled, maintaining product integrity and safety.
  • Sorting: The sorting units inspect the production line for foreign and defective bottles. This process ensures that foreign bottles are rejected, preventing potential damage to the machine. The evaluations are conducted based on height, contour, and color criteria.By integrating this advanced inspection technology, the customer has optimized its production process and improved product reliability.
  • Residual Liquid: Bottles containing caustic lye, oil, or even minute amounts of residual liquid, which could compromise the safety of the end product, are promptly detected and rejected from the production line.

Gallery

Videos