Flex-LIW achieves one-day payback for crisp maker

When a client of Penko recently ordered Flex-LIW controllers for its potato-crisp production line, it intended to install them as 'black box' units inside sealed cubicles, hidden from operators.

But when the client's technicians realised the benefits of seeing the clear bright display graphics of Flex, they immediately changed their plans and moved the instruments to prominent positions on the front of the production-line cubicles.

The large touch-screen display panel of Flex offers a choice of visual indication, including fast response coloured bar-graphs that can be easily seen from a distance.

The instruments were installed to control the application of paprika powder to potato crisps.

The Flex instruments can accurately measure the weight of powder as it flows from a hopper, using the loss-in-weight principle.

Previously, the flow would have been displayed digitally, with the measured values displayed as rapidly flickering digits.

Flex's graphical coloured display allows the operator to tell immediately if the flow is constant and within preset limits (green bar-graph).

If there is a problem, such as lumps of powder in the flow, these show up as red bar-graphs, prompting the operator to adjust the flow rate.

The client estimated that the Flex paid for itself in one day through saving on paprika.

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