VEGAPOINT 24 level switches master sticky and viscous substances, Food and Beverage Industry News reports.
Many foods have a distinctive texture, from melt-in-your-mouth like some processed cheeses to grainy like peeling cream or tough, sticky, crunchy and soft.
Depending on the consistency, the demands on the level measurement technology used in production increase.
VEGA has developed and recently released the new front-flush level switch VEGAPOINT 24 especially for use with very sticky, viscous, or abrasive products. Its focus is on the achieving the greatest possible robustness.
Even with the strongest buildup, the piece reliably detects the level of coverage and indicates it with a coloured illuminated ring that is visible from a distance.
The rings are also available in 256 individually selectable colours.
Runs perfectly when it lights up
Thanks to its robustness, VEGAPOINT 24 is a real plug-and-play sensor, and it can be installed in just a few simple steps.
Flexible production systems with frequent and fast product changes benefit from the fact that the piece detects all media with the help of the default setting, without adjustment.
And extended functions, such as interface detection or foam blanking, can be configured with relative ease.
Only metal in the tank
“With this device, we are specifically targeting the beverage, food and pharmaceutical sectors,” said Volker Allgaier, product manager at VEGA.
“Here, mixing and conveying are all about efficiency and safety, even with demanding liquids and bulk solids like molasses or nut-nougat cream.”
Meanwhile, the front-flush design of VEGAPOINT 24 ensures universal application possibilities.
“Even cleaning pigs works safely alongside the flat measuring tip,” said Allgaier.
“And the measuring tip also copes with sandblasting. This is because there is only metal in the tank.”
Compared to plastic, Allgaier concludes, extensive tests have shown an extended service life by a factor of four.
Fits like a glove
Users are also able to achieve optimum visibility of their processes with the new VEGAPOINT 24 piece.
The decisive factor, however, is flexibility of use. With its versatile process fittings and adaptors, the level switch “fits like a glove”, even in already existing systems.
Some of features offered by the product includes complete flush process connection, ability to be used in a pigging system, no spray or shadow casting and it ignores build up with factory settings.
The other features of the VEGAPOINT 24 are its ability to work on low dielectric liquid processes with factory setting, individually settable outputs, abrasion resistance, compact form, and low cost.
Case Study
Getting the right sensor is one thing but what is also important is being able to secure the right back up services.
An example of this is a case study on Vega’s work with Hipex to help with the construction of pilot plants for companies to trial new products under working conditions.
The company had a small batch tank with an agitator, steam and a range of other complications that would affect instrumentation.
Ultimately Vega brought forth the VEGAPULS 64 sensor to meet the specifications that Hipex expected.
“It worked extremely well. It was a very small plant, but the whole system was complex and expensive,” said Hipex mechanical engineer Jay Edward.
“It went off without a hitch. Because it is an R&D device, the Department had people coming in from all over the place trialling products.
“With new operators all the time it had to be accurate, repeatable and reliable. It got a lot of publicity.”
One of the reasons it is critical that the instrument met the specifications is that Hipex is an OEM, which means not only are local companies its competition, but overseas corporations are, too.
A key factor in Hipex continually turning to VEGA for its products is that there is immediate support and comprehensive local knowledge about the complex instrumentation they offer.
This is only one example of how Vega helps the food and beverage industry with regards to instrumentation and sensor technology.