Allpax Helps Food Processors Lower the Risk of Product Recall with Allpax Basket Tracking

Jul 13, 2016

COVINGTON, LA — Allpax, powered by ProMach, introduced today the Allpax basket tracking system for non-automated retort rooms. Allpax Basket Tracking is a barcode-based system for tracing cans, jars, trays, and pouches by basket through each critical checkpoint in the retort room and tagging those packages to verified processing by an individual retort. This new system is designed to improve security within the retort room and to lower the risk of product retort bypass. Allpax Basket Tracking can be integrated into every non-automated retort operation.

Previously, Allpax introduced a similar system for automated Allpax retort rooms. Customers and those with other brands of retorts contacted Allpax about the availability of a similar system for non-automated retort rooms where baskets are moved manually. Inquiring companies desired to better ensure that every can, jar, tray, and pouch they produced was verified to be properly sterilized and that an electronic record documented that fact.

Each basket is tagged with a human readable number and a machine readable number, both in laser-etched stainless steel. Scanning positively identifies each basket as it moves between loading, retorting, and unloading zones of the retort room. Positive identification is cross checked by the software-based tracking system.

Non-conforming actions are alarmed and require authorized operator resolution to clear the alarm. For example, the system will alarm if a basket fails to enter a retort or enters the wrong retort. Each basket scan triggers the tracking system to transfer a basket’s identity from one logical set of basket positions – zones – to the next (See Figure 1). Basket checkpoints are located at each loader, retort, and unloader system in the retort room. For an extra level of security, companies can opt to have employees wear a tag which is also scanned and links the employee to the basket.

Figure 1: Screen shot showing the status of baskets at three zones in the retort room: processed zone (left), retorts (center), and unprocessed zone (right).

Figure 2: Shows the basket legend as displayed on the Allpax Basket Tracking HMI

“The Allpax Basket Tracking system is a marriage of hardware and software optimized for tracing and tracking packaging through the sterilization process,” said Greg Jacob, Vice President and General Manager, Allpax. “Allpax accounted for the realities of the retort room in terms of productivity and built a fast and easy to use system that will have zero impact on throughput. This is the type of safety and security development the entire Allpax team is proud to have created.”

For more information on Allpax Basket Tracking from Allpax for non-automated retort rooms, call 1-888-893-9277 and ask for Greg Jacob. For information on other Allpax lab retort, retort, and retort room automation solutions visit www.Allpax.com.

About Allpax

Supporting the highest levels of product safety and regulatory compliance, Allpax manufactures processing and sterilization solutions for the food, beverage, pet food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries, including autoclaves, retort room components, fully automated retort rooms, and product handling equipment that supports retort room automation. Allpax is a product brand of ProMach, a global leader in packaging line solutions. As part of the ProMach Product Handling business line, Allpax helps our packaging customers protect and grow the reputation and trust of their consumers. ProMach is performance, and the proof is in every package. Learn more about Allpax at www.Allpax.com and more about ProMach at ProMachBuilt.com.

Media Contact

David Starck | David.Starck@promachbuilt.com

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