New Version of the Sartorius ProControl@Inline Software

“Transparent processes” is an important key phrase in industrial production. In the food industry in particular, tightened regulations require complete monitoring and documentation of all critical checkpoints and associated equipment. Weighing technology and metal detectors supply a significant part of the data needed for this purpose. In spite of this, in many companies in the food, drinks, cosmetics, tobacco, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, networking is still incomplete, especially for individual appliances, which are not a direct part of the production line.

With the new version of the Sartorius software ProControl@Inline (SPCInline), it is now possible to connect both weighing technology devices and metal detectors to IT networks and to coordinate them centrally. This means it is possible not only to visualize information from the checkweighers on one or more monitoring computers in quality assurance and/or in production management, but also to display the relevant data from the metal detectors. Users are therefore immediately informed of any process problems on the checkweigher, reports of metallic contamination or settings and availability of appliances and are able to intervene to take action if necessary. This can also be done on the move: the people responsible can be informed of possible error messages and other information via e-mail clients (PC, XDA, PDA) even when they are away from the site. With networking via SPCInline, it is possible to directly and centrally control and monitor all current batches on one or more PCs in quality assurance and/or production. In addition, all data recorded is saved over a long period.

Meeting Legal Requirements
Whether it is a single value or statistical data - all information is securely and flexibly saved for exchange with company software. Using the new version of SPCInline, all legal requirements can be met with regard to packaging regulations but also in relation to IFS/HACCP/BRC. This is of particular interest to firms who deliver to retail chains.

The software is easy to install. The system has been developed using the most up-to-date programming tools based on MS SQL databases. The online help and tool tips, which have a user interface configured according to Windows Style Guides, allow the user to get to grips with the software quickly and use it safely. Users of the checkweighers will have no problems at all, as the functions of the device can also be found, for example, in the QA office on the PC.