Höfelmeyer Waagen GmbH (Germany) – New generation of Höfelmeyer process stations supports efficient and optimally connected production.

“Despite increasing automation, the value creation chain in manufacturing companies relies on a wide variety of manual tasks. The trend towards small batch sizes and product individualization further reinforces this. To ensure quality, safety and efficiency, manual work stations too must be seamlessly integrated into the process chain and information systems”, explained Höfelmeyer Waagen.

With its process stations, Höfelmeyer Waagen GmbH also supports complex and variable operations in production, packaging, logistics, laboratories and clean rooms, etc. “Thanks to their modular structure, the platforms are specially adapted for the manual work to be performed. Furthermore, these can be embedded in the overall chain of operations in terms of processes and information technology, which enables real-time process controls and seamless traceability”, added the company. Höfelmeyer’s many years of industry experience yield optimally tailored solutions for the food and animal feed, chemical, pharmaceutical, healthcare and logistics industries.

The work stations consist of a solid stand and a powerful, hygienic touch IPC with integrated weighing terminal. The IPC, with all the necessary interfaces, can be integrated into the existing ERP and MES systems. The stations also incorporate additional modules — depending on whether the operation focuses on recipe management, bottling, quality assurance, labeling, laboratory work, etc.

Possible options include a wide variety of weighing platforms (hygiene, laboratory, drive-through, floor scales, etc.) printer units, scanners, RFID readers, thermometers, and fat or gas analyzers. Integrated conveyor belts and roller conveyors, enclosures, signaling devices, product containers, packaging material providers, stand rollers, and more enable the tailored adaptation of the system to the requirements of the site involved.

“The innovation of the validation-enabled weighing technology lies in the fact that it is directly embedded in the IPC and supports the existing ERP/MES systems. This allows a universal, system-wide operating concept to be realized and enhances clarity, user-friendliness and hygiene”, continues Höfelmeyer.

According to the company, “the modular system from Höfelmeyer offers all the advantages of a specially developed system while being cost-efficient. Whether they are used as standalone products or fully integrated into the system, the process stations feature perfectly coordinated components, an ergonomic concept adapted to the specific workflow, and a slim, robust and hygienic design”.

“They comply with relevant standards, such as IFS, BRC, HACCP, LMIV, FPVO, FDA and GMP, etc. In addition, the customer benefits from comprehensive service from Höfelmeyer in the form of consulting (e.g., weighing and control technology, process design, quality management), and further down the line, from a fast and professional maintenance and repair service”, they concluded.