Food processing
Food processing industry
TMI-Orion presents a full range of autonomous loggers for the food industry, measuring temperature, pressure, air flow, rotation, deformation during the thermal cycles. TMI-Orion data loggers work with Qlever, a dedicated software allowing visualization and data management.
Forsterilization, pasteurization, package deformation,bakery cooking, roasting, drying, freezing, smokehouse applications, oil cooking, microwave..
Processes of the food industry
Validation of thermal processes in the food industry is related to both sanitary requirements and creating quality products in terms of taste and texture. This involves the validation of sterilization and pasteurization cycles as well as the control of different industry specific manufacturing processes.
STERILIZATION
Sterilization is performed in static or rotary retorts. The following processes are required for sterilization validation:
- Thermal cycle validation (F0)
- Heat distribution test to find the cold spot in the chamber
- Heat penetration test to find the cold spot in the container.
Other data can be measured during the thermal processes such as:
- Deformation of containers during the sterilization cycles
- Difference of pressure inside and outside a container
- Rotation speed of the cans in continuous rotary sterilizers
Sterilization validation / cooking control
Static or rotary retorts are suitable for simultaneous sterilization and cooking of many kinds of products in containers like jars, cans, pouches, doypacks, trays, bottles… Temperature and pressure measurement are carried out inside retorts and inside the food containers.
TMI-Orion solutions
Data loggers
PicoVACQ Temperature or NanoVACQ Temperature
Software
Qlever software platform
+ Authentication-tracking module (FDA 21 CFR Part 11): optional
+ Calibration module: optional
OR
Qlever Lite Software
Connectivity
2.4 GHz radio modem or wired interface for NanoVACQ Wired interface for PicoVACQ
Packaging deformation
B) Counter-pressure
- Data loggers
NanoVACQ PT-Tc or PicoVACQ PT
- Software
Qlever software platform
+ Authentication-tracking module (FDA 21 CFR Part 11): optional
+ Calibration module: optional
OR
Qlever Lite
- Connectivity
2.4 GHz radio modem or wired interface for NanoVACQ PT-Tc Wired interface for PicoVACQ PT
TMI-Orion Solutions
A) Inductive movement sensor
- Data loggers
NanoVACQ Deformation + positioning kit.
- Software
Qlever software platform
+ Authentication-tracking module (FDA 21 CFR Part 11): optional
OR
Qlever Lite
- Connectivity
Wired interface
On cans and flexible containers, it is important to prevent defects that may occur during thermal treatments: mainly bursting and deformation. In order to dertermine the counter-pressure to apply, it is possible to measure internal and external temperature at all times. It is also possible to measure directly the container deformation with an inductive movement sensor.
Rotation speed measurement
TMI-Orion solution
Data loggers
PicoVACQ Rotation
Software
Qlever software platform
+ Authentication-tracking module (FDA 21 CFR Part 11): optional
OR
Qlever Lite Software
Connectivity
Wired interface
Measurement of the rotation speed of cans inside continuous
rotary sterilizers is necessary to validate the sterilization
process.
TMI-Orion offers a solution to measure speed rotation inside
any rotating process, such as retorts, from -40°C to +140°C,
up to 150 rpm.
PASTEURIZATION
Heat treatments in pasteurization processes are usually carried out in tunnel pasteurizers, where the bottles, jars or cans are conveyed under hot water sprays. The water temperature increases up to the pasteurization temperature point and then cools down so that the containers themselves are cooled at the end of the conveyer belt for unload.
The validation process includes the following steps:
- Heat distribution test to find the cold point in the tunnel,
- Heat penetration test to find the cold spot in the
product.
Pasteurization validation
TMI-Orion solution
Data loggers
PicoVACQ Temperature or NanoVACQ Temperature or MiniVACQ
Software
Qlever software platform
+ Authentication-tracking module (FDA 21 CFR Part 11): optional
+ Calibration module: optional
OR
Qlever Lite Software
Connectivity
2.4 GHz radio modem or wired interface for NanoVACQ
Wired interface for PicoVACQ and MiniVACQ
TMI-Orion offers solutions for pressure and temperature
measurement and PU calculation.
Microwave processes
When microwave oven processes are used, temperature is controlled with a rugged watertight logger protected by a thermal shield directly inserted in the product, or immersed into a liquid.
TMI-Orion Solutions
Data loggers
Picomicrowave
Software
Qlever software platform
+ Authentication-tracking module (FDA 21 CFR Part 11): optional
+ Calibration module: optional
OR
Qlever Lite Software
Connectivity
Wired interface
OTHER INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES
Bakery cooking
TMI-Orion solution
Data loggers
PicoVACQ Temperature or NanoVACQ Temperature or VACQ xFlat
Software
Qlever software platform
+ Authentication-tracking module (FDA 21 CFR Part 11): optional
+ Calibration module: optional
OR
Qlever Lite Software
Connectivity
2.4 GHz radio modem or wired interface for NanoVACQ and VACQ xFlat
Wired interface for PicoVACQ
For specific applications of bakery or pastry cooking in tunnel
ovens, temperature can be monitored at various points in the
oven and inside the product.
Above +140°C, the loggers must be protected by a thermal
shield.
Roasting
TMI-Orion solution
Data loggers
PicoVACQ 1TH or NanoVACQ TH
Software
Qlever software platform
+ Authentication-tracking module (FDA 21 CFR Part 11): optional
+ Calibration module: optional
OR
Qlever Lite
Connectivity
2.4 GHz radio modem or wired interface for NanoVACQ
1TH and NanoVACQ 2TH
Wired interface for PicoVACQ and NanoVACQ 3TH
For nut roasting processes, TMI-Orion recommends the use of small thermocouple data loggers.
Above +140°C, the loggers must be protected by a thermal
shield.
Drying
TMI-Orion solution
Data loggers
PicoVACQ Temperature or NanoVACQ Temperature or VACQ xFlat, PicoVACQ HT or NanoVACQ HT, NanoVACQ Ad-Td
Software
Qlever software platform
+ Authentication-tracking module (FDA 21 CFR Part 11): optional
+ Calibration module: optional
OR
Qlever Lite Software
Connectivity
2.4 GHz radio modem or wired interface for NanoVACQ and VACQ xFlat Wired interface for PicoVACQ
Monitoring food drying and fermentation processes requires temperature and humidity measurement during the cycles. Measuring air flow in the dryers is also required to ensure the evenness of the air distribution during the cycles.
Freezing
TMI-Orion solution
Data loggers
NanoVACQ Temperature or PicoVACQ Temperature
Software
Qlever software platform
+ Authentication-tracking module (FDA 21 CFR Part 11): optional
+ Calibration module: optional
OR
Qlever Lite Software
Connectivity
2.4 GHz radio modem or wired interface for NanoVACQ
Wired interface for PicoVACQ
For freezing processes, TMI-Orion offers solutions based
on loggers measuring temperature down to -90°C without
thermal shields.
Smokehouse applications
TMI-Orion solution
Data loggers
PicoVACQ Temperature or NanoVACQ Temperature or
VACQ xFlat
PicoVACQ HT or NanoVACQ HT
NanoVACQ Ad-Td.
- Software
Qlever software platform
+ Authentication-tracking module (FDA 21 CFR Part 11): optional
+ Calibration module: optional
OR
Qlever Lite Software
- Connectivity
2.4 GHz radio modem or wired interface for NanoVACQ and VACQ xFlat
Wired interface for PicoVACQ
Smoking is a process used in the food industry to add flavor
and color to fish, meat, or cheese. Inside the smokehouse,
the products are placed on hangers or screens, the air
circulates at the conditions of temperature, humidity and air
flow required by the process.
Oil cooking
TMI-Orion solution
Data loggers
PicoVACQ Temperature
Software
Qlever software platform
+ Authentication-tracking module (FDA 21 CFR Part 11): optional
+ Calibration module: optional
OR
Qlever Lite Software
Connectivity
Wired interface
PicoVACQ with specific thermal shield can withstand up to +200°C. It is used to validate temperature in frying processes.
TMI-Orion PORTFOLIO FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY
You will find here a choice of dataloggers for food industry processes : temperature, pressure, humidity, air flow, deformation,
force.
Our range of temperature dataloggers covers temperatures from -90°C to +140°C. Beyond +140°C, a thermal shield is
necessary.
Sensors are Pt100, Pt1000 or thermocouples for high temperature data loggers. The probes have various forms and dimensions. Sensors can be internal to the logger, placed at the end of a rigid probe 10 to 100 mm long, or at the end of a flexible or semi-rigid probe, up to 1 meter long.
Depending on the models, you can choose loggers with 1 to 32 measurement channels.
Data loggers
NanoVACQ Temprature, NanoVACQ Temperature radio, NanoVACQ Température FullRadio
- 1, 2 or 3 temperature sensors
NanoVACQ HT (Humidity and Temperature), NanoVACQ HT radio, NanoVACQ HT FullRadio
- 1 humidity sensor
- 1 temperature sensor
NanoVACQ Temperature thermocouples, NanoVACQ Th radio, NanoVACQ Th FullRadio
- 1, 2 or 3 thermocouple channels.
NanoVACQ PT (Pressure and Temperature), NanoVACQ PT radio, NanoVACQ PT FullRadio
- 1 pressure sensor
- 1 or 2 temperature sensors
NanoVACQ Ad-Td (Air flow and temperature), NanoVACQ Ad-Td FullRadio
- 1 anemometry sensor
- 1 temperature sensor
NanoVACQ Deformation
- Mesure les variations dimensionnelles des boîtes, barquettes, sachets, opercules...
NanoVACQ Deformation
Qlever Software for food processing industry
Accessories
Additional tips for packaging handling
Containers with limited access
Thanks to its small size, PicoVACQ easily fits inside bottles through standard bottle-necks or any flexible packaging. It is designed to provide information during filling, sealing and transport.
Positionning the loggers inside containers
TMI-Orion has a wide range of positionning kits available to maintain the logger sensor at the cold spot inside the containers.
Solutions for packaging industrial processes
- Can lid coating polymerization
- Annealing of metal parts such as can lids
- Cans interior lacquer or varnish polymerization
- Cans exterior serigraphy curing
- Cans joining strip varnish curing
- Overpressurization tests in PET bottles, glass, caps, etc...and many more industrial processes
Accessories
The positionning kits help maintain the logger sensor at the cold point inside the process ; some of them act as a mechanical protection for the logger. According to the applications, the logger will be placed inside or outside the container. The following are usual devices, but customization can be studied upon request.