ENGINEERING IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY www.engineeringnews.co.nz 19 Critical: real-time connections The network connections between the field components are also important. Ethernet‑based intranet protocols such as ethernet/IP and OPC have been firmly established. But large amounts of data still need to be transferred in real‑time between controller, inspection system and a myriad of other field devices. EtherCAT has been designed specifically from the ground up for manufacturing environments and thus delivers excellent results, with a minimum of hardware infrastructure. It’s also open‑vendor, meaning users are free to choose best‑of technology, by being able to source devices from multiple vendors. EN063 RFID systems An RFID system is where each item being produced has a read/write tag associated with it. The tag carries data related directly to the process(es) that have been performed on the item. They are low cost and are usually mounted on the crate or pedestal holding the product, and are thus reused once the product has left the line. RFID assists greatly in individualising products but to date, have mainly been used in highly advanced manufacturing environment, like automobiles. However, to use an RFID system effectively, the controller needs to be integrated with a database. Modern demands are more The demands of modern manufacturing are becoming ever greater, with consumers wanting authentication of the products they’re purchasing. They’re also desiring to know more about actual contents, the processes involved during manufacture, and many other characteristics. To give end‑users access to this type of information, manufacturers need to implement product serialisation and full traceability across the entire supply chain, including the final purchaser. The availability of technologies such as of 'big data' are starting to make this a realistic proposition in the foreseeable future.
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