Masterclass in canning technology Ferrum

MASTERCLASS IN

CANNING TECHNOLOGY

Ferrum is a global leader in the development and production of can-seamers for the beverage, food and can-making industries as well as separation of solids from liquids. Philip Yorke talked to Ernst Werthmueller, the company’s CEO, about its latest, ground-breaking technology and move into new market sectors.

IN 1917 in Rupperswil, Switzerland, a company was founded that was to transform the food manufacturing industry and set the standards for hygiene and canning quality that are still recognised as the benchmark for the industry today. The company started with just two divisions: canning technology and foundry work. However, the first of many innovative products were developed in the early 1920s when Ferrum designed a cherry pitting machine and a pea filling machine. These were to be the first of many innovative stoning machines and fillers to be developed by this research orientated and quality-driven company.

Today Ferrum Ltd has moved on to become the foremost technology leader in its field and has directed its considerable resources to focus on its main specialisation. Ferrum’s high-tech product range has now expanded to include low, medium and high speed can-seamers for every conceivable application in the beverage, food and canmaking industry. Ferrum operates five different business units under one roof that range from canning technology and centrifuge technology, to manufacturing as well as washing and metal casting. With two major manufacturing facilities in Switzerland and offices and technical support worldwide, the company employs around 450 people globally.

Innovative, customised solutions

With a can seaming capacity ranging from 20 to 2,500 cans per minute, Ferrum seamers can be used for a wide variety of applications in the food and beverage industries. A single Ferrum can-seamer can seam up to 150,000 beverage cans per hour on a non-stop 24 hour a day basis. With the infinite variety of options available concerning diameter, height and speed, Ferrum can-seamers make product-specific operations a simple procedure for manufacturers. This wide range of options is utilised to meet the growing demand for tailor-made canning solutions and with its state-of-the-art vacuum seamers, there is also no problem meeting the most stringent international regulations concerning food hygiene standards.

Interestingly, Ferrum set even higher standards for the canning industry recently when it installed its latest F812 ferruClean can-seamer machine in Finland. Ferrum has not only optimised its cleaning system after applying extensive spray shadow tests, but has also used the results for further research and development. This has resulted in water consumption being reduced even further with an average of 500 litres per day being saved. The requirements regarding hygiene in the food and beverage industry are continuously increasing so manufacturers are even more aware of their responsibilities in this area. Ferrum therefore provides the optimal answer to the hygiene challenges facing canning companies today.

Mr Werthmueller said, “Over 90 per cent of our canning business is exported and we are the world technology leader in this sector. We are working closely with our OEM partners to optimise this equipment, which we see as an important growth area for us.” In September this year we will be showcasing our latest line of ‘Can seamer machines’ systems which are designed to close the gap that currently exists in the market.

“Our latest centrifuge technology is also enabling us to grow in the food market too,

Modern Know-how and 70 years of tradition, that is dannenmann. Containers, devices and pipelines made from stainless steel and aluminium - these products make up our world. We congratulate Ferrum AG on its latest innovations and look forward to developing our cooperation in the future.

dannenmann gmbh - Steinheimer Str. 37, 89518 Heidenheim Tel.: +49 7321 9853 12 Mail: info@dannenmann-gmbh.de Fax: +49 7321 9853 27 www.dannenmann-gmbh.de as well as the chemical, agricultural, pharmaceutical and energy industries. Ferrum provides effective and innovative custom designed solutions. Whether for a kilogram scale laboratory for the development of a new active ingredient or for high throughput with more than 85 tons /hour application.

“With over 80 per cent of our production going to our export markets, some of the world’s biggest brands rely on our high-quality, innovative Swiss technology to optimise their production processes. These include companies such as ‘Hero’ in the food market and Coca Cola in the beverages market. Our products are marketed in more than 60 countries worldwide and we have an international network of after-sales and service technicians available at all times. We are active in the world’s fastest-growing markets such as China and India as well as in the USA and Latin America.

Swiss precision is evident in both our production and assembly works in Switzerland. Ferrum strives to keep a competitive edge as one of the technology leaders and provide sustainable, worldwide support for the processes of our broad client platform with innovations in various industrial segments. The implementation process is supported by ferruLean – Ferrum’s integrated Lean Management – at all stages of the process.”

Remote data diagnosis

Innovation at Ferrum does not stop at the shop floor. Thanks to a new diagnostics system developed by Ferrum, it is now possible to access and analyse important data in real-time on any can-seamer machine and at any time. This means in practice that no matter where in the world a Ferrum seamer is located, this new diagnostics system will inform the operator precisely when machine overhauls or minor servicing is necessary. The Ferrum ‘ferruTel’ device therefore takes on the role of an electronic employee working around the clock for the operator.

Already more than 20 independent canseamers have taken advantage of this latest technology. Martin Schurmann, the ferruTel project manager said, “Once installed on the can-seamer, the device will send selected data to our Swiss headquarters, regardless of whether this is from Mexico, the USA, Brazil or Finland. Once the data has been evaluated, significant advantages result for the customer. For example, we can inform our client in advance of when an overhaul is necessary. Currently the ferruTel supplies around 60 machine parameters, including operating hours and seaming times, and with this combined data it is possible to establish which portion of the operating hours was actually spent on seaming cans.”

The overall benefits of this analytical device offer considerable advantages to the user and can help with the scheduling of overhauls to be carried out at slower production periods, thus avoiding expensive down-time at peak periods. n

For further information about Ferrum canseaming technology and its other high-tech services visit: www.ferrum.net