AMS is helping food and beverage manufacturers improve process accuracy and reduce calibration time through Beamex.
For food and beverage manufacturers, consistency is built on measurement. Accurate process control affects everything from product quality and operational efficiency to compliance and waste reduction.
As production lines become more automated and quality expectations continue to rise, manufacturers are placing greater focus on calibration systems that improve reliability and reduce manual handling. AMS Instrumentation & Calibration is supporting this shift through a range of process control and calibration technologies used across food and beverage production environments.
AMS product and training manager Mike Farkas noted that the value of calibration is tied to the practical realities manufacturers face on the factory floor.
“If you don’t measure accurately, you might get the wrong mix of certain products,” said Farkas. “The more accurately you mix your products, the more accurate the quality of the product becomes.”
AMS imports a range of process-control instrumentation and calibration systems used across industrial sectors, including food and beverage manufacturing. The company supplies technologies for sanitary and hygienic applications, including flow meters, flow switches, optical devices, pH and conductivity systems, as well as calibration equipment.
With decades of experience in the instrumentation and calibration industry, Farkas oversees several product ranges and provides training and technical support for customers across Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.
“Our equipment is suitable for sanitary applications, which is important for the food industry,” said Farkas.
One of the company’s key offerings is the Beamex range of calibration systems.
Beamex
Beamex is a manufacturer that develops both calibration software and hardware designed to streamline instrument testing and record management. With accurate measurements, reliable data and traceability, the Beamex calibration ecosystem ensures compliance and increases operational safety.
The system combines calibration-management software with portable calibration devices, including the MC6 multifunction calibrator. Rather than relying on handwritten notes and manual calculations, technicians can follow a guided digital process.
“The idea of the system is to make customers more efficient in the calibration work,” said Farkas.
Using the software, instrument information and calibration procedures are entered once and stored digitally. Calibration data can then be transferred directly to the portable calibrator using Bluetooth or USB connectivity. The MC6 calibrator guides the technician through the process, advising what test points to calibrate the instrument at and calculating the errors.
As the calibrator automatically records and stores measurement data, technicians do not need to manually calculate tolerances or determine whether equipment passes or fails calibration requirements.
“There’s no need for the technician to work out the accuracies,” Farkas said. “The MC6 does it for you.”
If instrument adjustments are required, the system also supports configuration and recalibration before results are uploaded back into the software platform. Calibration certificates can then be generated digitally, ready to be printed in soft or hard format.
The importance of accuracy
For food and beverage manufacturers, these data-enabled decisions are imperative when driving improvements in productivity. Accuracy directly affects product consistency. Incorrect measurements during production can result in recipe variations, wasted ingredients and inconsistent product quality.
Farkas explained that many manufacturers still rely on paper-based calibration processes and handwritten notes when testing instruments in the field. While functional, these methods can introduce delays and human error into the process.
“If I have to transfer it to an Excel sheet to provide certificates, I might misread it,” said Farkas.
These challenges become more difficult as facilities scale up production or operate across multiple processing lines. Traceability requirements, audit preparation and compliance reporting also place additional pressure on maintenance and instrumentation teams.
For manufacturers handling liquids, powders and blended ingredients, even small deviations can affect taste, texture and shelf life. Calibration systems therefore play a role not only in maintaining production efficiency, but also in protecting brand reputation.
Lightening the load
Farkas said paperless calibration systems can reduce administrative work while improving the accuracy of collected data. For food and beverage manufacturers operating under strict production schedules, reducing maintenance and calibration time can deliver broader operational benefits.
“It will improve your calibration, it will improve your efficiency, it will improve the accuracy of the data that you’re collecting,” he said.
The reduction in manual handling also supports faster turnaround during servicing and instrument verification.
“One customer said that they have saved 75 per cent of the calibration time using a paperless system like Beamex,” said Farkas.
Beyond efficiency, digital traceability can also support compliance and audit readiness. Calibration records are stored electronically, reducing the risk of lost paperwork or incomplete reporting.
Farkas mentioned situations where calibration documentation can become critical for operational continuity. A business might risk losing its licences because it cannot prove calibration of its equipment. AMS can assist with the adoption Beamex, which provides a calculated procedure and documented proof.
With pre-defined calibration procedures and step-by-step guidance, the Beamex calibration ecosystem provides an automated and harmonised process to eliminate errors, disruptions and risks.
Long-term support
While AMS supplies imported technologies from international manufacturers, Farkas said the company’s role extends beyond product supply. Ongoing technical support and customer assistance form a large part of the business. He mentioned a rewarding aspect of his career.
“I enjoy assisting customers by providing them with solutions,” said Farkas.
AMS works closely with manufacturers and suppliers to resolve technical challenges, whether they involve simple troubleshooting or more advanced calibration requirements. The company also maintains a long-standing relationship with Beamex, having worked with the manufacturer for more than four decades. This ongoing collaboration allows AMS to access technical support directly from the manufacturer when required.
“We discuss the issue with Beamex to come up with a tailored solution suited for the customer,” said Farkas.
As food and beverage manufacturers continue investing in automation and process reliability, accurate measurement and calibration systems are becoming more integrated into daily operations. For AMS, the focus remains on helping manufacturers improve consistency, efficiency and confidence across production environments.
“Having these systems in place from the very beginning will save a business a lot of costs and risks,” said Farkas. “Our goal is helping customers with any issues and ensuring that we meet expectations.”
