FAQ – Réponses aux questions fréquentes
Reconnue pour sa capacité d’innovation, Axitherm a construit son expertise sur des interactions fortes avec ses clients et des retours éprouvés sur les solutions matérielles et logiciels mises en place.
Autant de questionnements “judicieux” qu’ Axitherm a aujourd’hui choisi de partager.
DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW PRODUCT
I intend to develop a new product and I require autoclave logger of temperature for short period. Do you offer these products for hire?
Yes, of course. All our loggers and sensors like temperature data loggers, pressure gauges or deflection probe are available for rent. We propose them in a ready-to-use kits. The basic rental time is one week. This service can be completed with remote assistance. Then, you will find the ideal solution for your occasional needs in order to enable development of your business without heavy investment.
I need R&D support for the development of recipes
Axitherm can help you with the development of your product at your production site. All our work is therefore carried out on your equipment, in your workshop and in cooperation with your team in order to maximise the transfer of skills. Our R&D expertise with regard to long-conservation heat treatment enables simultneous development of packaging and retort process.
I require assistance with the development of pasteurization programmes
As part of our competences, Axitherm proposes services relative to thermal homogeneity of the retort, validation of sterilisation/pasteurisation values while guaranteeing the physical behaviour of your packaging.
I looking for assistance in sterilisation trouble shooting. Can you offer solutions?
Axitherm proposes a project team service and assumes the role of “external” partner. This method simplifies operations in project mode and unites all forces available to attain the required results in pasteurization and sterilization processes.
I am not happy of my product aspect with the thermal treatment applied. Are you able to manage it?
Axitherm can define a new schedule capable of preserving organoleptic qualities by keeping the same Fo or PU. This approach applies while respecting the packaging performance
QUALIFICATION OF THERMAL EQUIPMENT
I must qualify my retorts to ensure temperature homogeneity, can you help?
We propose a complete mapping service which will meet all your requirements. Thermal mapping, Heat penetration and Process validation are all possible. AXITHERM has even develop a special Thermal Mapping in retort to waranty performances will meet homogeneity requirements.
I need to know the cold-spot of my retort, what should I do?
In a retort, the cold spot designates the position at which the temperature is lowest during the heating period. A number of autoclave loggers are placed inside the retort and the differences between the highest and lowest temperatures are recorded.
AXITHERM can do the full job for you but you can also rent our temperature loggers (calibrated) and just sent us the result. AXITHERM will edit a report for you.
I have frequent alarms and I do not know why. Are you in a position to help with this problem?
Yes, we examine these problems on all types of retorts although there are a considerable number of possible causes for such alarms. In order to identify the cause(s), our team needs to come on site to carry out a complete diagnosis of your installation.
My equipment is badly adjusted, can you re-establish the optimum settings?
Indeed, depending on the type of equipment and frequency of use, these settings are prone to drift. An annual inspection will ensure your equipment functions correctly and thus guarantee production and power consumption reliability.
AXITHERM can calibrate the temperature and pressure of most existing thermal processes.
I use a continuous sterilizer, are you able to intervene in this equipement?
Yes, thanks to our scope of expertise and thirty years professional experience, we are perfectly qualified to intervene on all types of continuous sterilizer or rotary retort.
HEAT TREATMENT PROCESS
I must increase my F0, but process time is already too long. What can I do?
Axitherm is able to optimize your programme to ensure that the stability of your product in line with the production capacity of your equipment. This service allows you to fine-tune the process time and even make significant energy savings.
I am responsible for energy-saving projects. Do you propose solutions which will enable us to reduce our energy consumption?
The optimization of Retort heat treatment is one of the services most requested by Axitherm customers. There is an obvious reason for this: the intervention of our team guarantees real energy savings without loss of productivity and without investment. The result? Record savings in the consumption of steam, compressed air, water…
My plastic packaging is marked, how do I fine-tune my process?
A deflection measurement allows precise identification of the exact moment the packaging is deformed. Then you know when and how modify your current process.
AXITHERM can sale you the equipement or rent it and train you or even go on-site and adjust your programme.
The packaging is deformed after treatment, what can I do to prevent this?
Packaging deformation occurs when the pressure applied by the product is not correctly balanced with that of the retort. By modifying the heating or cooling temperature, time and counter-pressure profiles, you adjust your process in order to eliminate the pressure differences and subsequently the risk of deformation.
I wish to improve the organoleptic qualities, can it be achieved by modifying the retort process?
Yes, indeed. Taking into account the heating capacity of your product, Axitherm is able to create an optimised programmation to reduce the effects due to Maillard reactions or even to enhance aromas. The process also has an impact on the texture and colour and is therefore also a means of adjustment.
MEASUREMENTS ON PASTEURIZED OR STERILIZED PACKAGING
I would like to measure temperature and I am hesitating between a wired probe or autoclave logger. Can you assist me?
The choice of measurement system depends on your application. When monitoring production or when a large number of sensors must be fitted, the autoclave loggers is more appropriate.
The wired probe offers a direct read-out which is greatly appreciated for process adjustment. The R&D or Continuous Improvement departments often prefer these systems.
Nevertheless, our loggers are now so small that they offer a higher accurancy than probe. So, they are fully multipurpose.
How can I repeatedly place my autoclave logger in the packaging cold-spot?
Axitherm proposes a range of purpose-designed mounts to ensure optimum repeatability of the DrinkLOG, HeatLOG, ThinLOG, AXImicro II and AXImicro dataloggers. Straight, self-aligning, for cans, jars or pouches, these mounts are adjustable, resistant and respect the thermal transfer and convection movement of the product.
I need a temperature autoclave logger with rod. Do you have this product in your catalogue?
Yes, Axitherm proposes a wide range of temperature autoclave loggers with rod. You can select length and diameter of the rod and even of the electronic body.
I need to measure temperature in small packaging with an autoclave logger units, what solutions can you offer?
Axitherm has developed several type of autoclave logger. With the DrinkLOG®, HeatLOG®, ThinLOG®, AXImicro II® and AXImicro® recorders, you are able to ensure very accurate positioning to allow temperature measurement with no disturbance of the cold-spot! Maintenance-free and guaranteed for 500,000 measurement points, these temperature loggers are available in three temperature ranges from -40°C to +140°C.
Do you have software for processing the data provided by these autoclave loggers?
For the DrinkLOG®, HeatLOG®, ThinLOG®, AXImicro II® and AXImicro® data-loggers, the reference software package is AxiSoft®. It allows simultaneous programming and reading of several logger, as well as the calculation of F0, PU or Cooking value. Enriched with numerous comments at several stages of operation, reporting is simplified and automated. It includes a graph and the table containing all values which may be consulted in xls or pdf formats. Using a time/date search function, it is possible to superimpose several recordings in the same report.
How do I define the length of the measurement rod for my autoclave logger?
The retort logger function with a temperature sensor located at the end of the rod. Even if the measurement takes place primarily at this end, it is significantly impacted by its environment and in particular by the length of the rod if the probe is made of stainless steel. Indeed, the length of the rod should be 10x greater than its diameter so that the stainless steel electronic body does not disrupt the temperature reading.
How do I insert a temperature rod (wired or remote) into my packaging without losing the vacuum?
Axitherm proposes the Onefix®, a device disigned for all packaging materials and shapes. It is suitable for industrial filling conditions and allows measurement during the entire process.
Do you have a system to measure the residual vacuum in the packaging?
The Axitherm digital manometerenables accurate monitoring of the packaging. It is used with a perforation system for flexible and rigid packaging (qualification of heat-sealing, vacuum seaming, capping, retort pressure sensor calibration).
What is the impact of the head space on the heat treatment?
In the case of a rotary retort, the head space is essential in order to agitate the product and allow penetration of the heat. In static mode, it slows heat penetration in product and therefore penalises productivity.
How do I position my deflection probe on the package, regardless of the surface being observed?
Among the numerous tools in the Axitherm range specifically designed according to “field” requirements, the universal mount provides the perfect solution for your problem. Made of stainless steel, it is adapted to all packaging shapes with no mechanical constraints to allow extremely accurate positioning of your deflection probe and that over a radius of 360°.
I am looking for a system which is easy to use for direct measurement of temperature, pressure or deflection?
The latest arrival in the Axitherm product range, the recorder P&P Box® (for Plug and Play) is exactly what you are looking for. Foreseen with a 3.7-inch colour touch-screen and 2 to 4 channels as standard, it will soon prove to be indispensable thanks to its capacity and modularity which enables you to carry out instantaneous calculation of PU or F0, % steam as well as assisted control functions to solve deflection problems… without the need to be connected to a computer!
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