Page 17 - AMEFT Journal 2021-4

(Source: TOMRA)
valuable as we move into a digitized fu- ture, with the power to transform sort- ing from an operational process into a strategic management tool.
Solving labor-related challenges
In addition to taking care of food safety and product quality, sorting ma- chines also help solve the challenges traditionally associated with employ- ing manual sorters- an effective pill for headaches caused by labor scarcity, cost, variable effectiveness and absen- teeism. And whereas manual sorting is unavoidably subjective, imperfect, and more vulnerable to error when labor- ers are tired or bored, automated sort- ers can work for hour after hour with superior accuracy, consistent stan- dards, and unflagging efficiency.
What’s more, the COVID-19 pan- demic has heightened awareness of how greater automation reduces the health risks inherent when people
have to work closely together. The more production steps the automated system takes care of, and the less man- ual intervention there is, the smaller the contamination risk. Extensive and reliable process automation ensures that the end-product is hygienic.
Smartphone App from TOMRA
The pandemic’s logistical complica- tions - travel limitations and social dis- tancing - have also highlighted the val- ue of TOMRA’s ability to complement on-the-ground support with remote assistance. With the recently launched smartphone app TOMRA Visual Assist, TOMRA field service engineers and customers can work closely together even when they are thousands of miles apart. The engineer can provide de- tailed advice just as if standing right in front of the customer’s machine, and both the engineer and the customer can share documents or annotate im-
ages to clarify and explain directions. Another initiative proving helpful dur- ing these unusual times is TOMRA’s On- line Demonstration Room. This makes it possible for confectionery producers to test-run TOMRA’s sorting machines, using their own infeed materials, even when they are unable to visit a TOMRA Test and Demonstration Center in per- son. Tests are shown via a live video link, with the customer encouraged to ask questions, make requests, and direct one of the cameras showing the pro- ceedings. After the test’s conclusion, ob- servers are provided with a report which quantifies results precisely and in detail. This means that, despite travel restric- tions, confectionery businesses can be certain of a machine’s capabilities before deciding whether to invest in the tech- nology. An investment that pays back in many ways, not least in protecting that most valuable business asset, brand rep-
FOCUS: CONFECTIONERY & SNACKS (Source: TOMRA)
utation.
(Source: TOMRA) www.ameft.com
(Source: TOMRA)
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