Daisy and Co ensure paper-free production with ABB SM500F

Somerset based Daisy & Co replaces circular chart recorders for an ABB SM500F videographic recorder.

Specialising in the manufacture of organic soft cheese, Daisy & Co regularly produces a range of special quality cheeses in batches to meet specific customer demands, using purpose built equipment including a traditional pasteuriser set.

Daisy & Co had been using dedicated circular chart recorders for decades to trace and record the process data such as hot and cold product temperatures and the heating medium temperature. However, due to the humid and wet conditions of a dairy environment the instrument was showing signs of wear and needed to be either refurbished or replaced.

When the paper chart recorder and controller failed in the middle of a pasteurisation run it resulted in the treatment process being ground to a halt and the pasteurisation process being put at risk. This is due to food quality regulations that require several parameters in the pasteuriser plant to be accurately recorded and the paper record/chart stored for several years.

Richard Harbord, CEO of Daisy & Co commented, “When our paper chart recorder failed we were desperate to get the machine going again.  Our electrician diagnosed terminal failure of the unit and so a replacement was needed urgently.” In a bid to resolve the problem as quickly as possible and restore the production process Daisy & Co approached local ABB alliance partner AM Sensors Ltd for a solution.

“AM Sensors responded immediately; loaning us a chart recorder whilst we considered what to do next,” says Harbord. “Our initial priority was to get production back up and running. Once this was achieved we wanted to focus on resolving existing operational, quality and accuracy issues. After quoting us for both a conventional replacement and an electronic ABB SM500F recorder we had no hesitation in selecting the SM500F videographic recorder.” 
The SM500F is an electronic data recorder that can be installed anywhere, taking recording out of the control room and offering users localised access to operational data.   

The SM500F enables Daisy & Co to continuously track what is happening in each process and allows them to conveniently store data for future reference. In a highly regulated industry the recorder offers efficient and constant transparency whilst reducing incidents of wastage due to product irregularities. This move from traditional analogue circular chart recorder to digital recording and logging technology means that Daisy and Co can use the information collected to ensure a high product quality and then archive records for future reference without the storage issues associated with paper-chart recorders.

Fully compliant with the FDA’s (Food and Drug Administration) 21 CFR Part 11 regulations concerning electronic process data collection, the SM500F is ideal for any installation where local indication and recording of process conditions is needed. Typical applications for the device include cold storage, temperature and humidity monitoring, effluent monitoring, borehole abstraction and building management systems. Its fully sealed IP66 and NEMA 4X enclosure provides full protection against water and dust ingress making it ideal for hosedown and dirty applications.

“A key benefit of the SM500F is its ease of use,” says Martin Binney, R&C Product Manager. “The SM500F includes four gland links, offering easy connection of the recorder to other instruments, whilst a user-friendly display and interface means that setting up and using the SM500F can quickly be mastered.”

Front-mounted pushbuttons allow simple selection of data, which is presented in a familiar Windows™ environment. Set-up and commissioning is also straightforward, with menus presenting options for setting and fine-tuning operating parameters. Added support is provided by an extensive context sensitive online help feature. As with other members of the SM recorder series, the SM500F can send email notifications whenever an alarm occurs to ensure that any potential problems are promptly addressed.”

Commenting on the success of the instrument Harbord says, “ABB’s SM500F has been a tried and tested success for us. Moving away from the traditional circular chart method to a 21st century production environment has made life a lot easier and offers us consistent peace of mind.”

Following installation of the SM500F Daisy and Co was up and running with minimal disruption thanks to the dedicated intuitive controls, displays and windows-style menus. “We were very impressed with the speed and professionalism that ABB & its partner AM Sensors displayed,” says Harbord. “Introducing the SM500F is a decision we have never regretted.  The system is easy to install; robust in a hostile environment; extremely easy to use and produces easy-to-read reports via the free software supplied.”

For more details on the SM500F please E-mail: moreinstrumentation@gb.abb.com or call 0870 600 6122 ref: ‘SM500F”.