{"id":60144,"date":"2022-04-06T11:32:30","date_gmt":"2022-04-06T09:32:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/?p=60144"},"modified":"2022-04-06T10:33:09","modified_gmt":"2022-04-06T08:33:09","slug":"nestle-improves-recycling-capability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/nestle-verbessert-recyclingfaehigkeit\/","title":{"rendered":"Nestl\u00e9 improves recyclability"},"content":{"rendered":"
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At the Nestl\u00e9 Health Science plant in Osthofen, coloured spoons are being replaced by transparent PP spoons. These are difficult for the human eye to recognise at high filling speeds. The company is therefore now relying on artificial intelligence and camera technology from Sick for automated process control and improved recyclability. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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A new technology has recently been Nestl\u00e9<\/a> Health Science plant in Osthofen in action: A Camera linked to artificial intelligence<\/strong>, The transparent spoon is used to check whether or not a spoon is included in various products for portioning. The transparent spoon is difficult to distinguish from the reflective, metallic surface of the packaging cans.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Artificial intelligence for process control<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Coloured trays have been replaced by transparent trays, as polypropylene (PP) without colour pigments is easier to sort and can be recycled more easily. Through the use of transparent PP spoon increases sortability and recyclability<\/strong>. A goal to which the company has committed itself.\u00a0<\/p>

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\u201eWith just one can, the human eye can recognise relatively easily whether a spoon has been added. At a filling speed of 80 cans per minute, this is no longer possible without errors. However, an individual inspection is mandatory in order to comply with our quality standards.\u201c<\/p>

Marcus Kauf<\/strong>, Automation engineer at the Nestl\u00e9 plant in Osthofen<\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Together with the company Sick<\/a>, a manufacturer of intelligent sensor technology, has developed a new Automated process control<\/strong> developed for the plant in Osthofen. Whereas with coloured spoons, a camera was able to deduce the presence of a spoon based on the number of colour pixels, transparent spoons require new camera technology linked to artificial intelligence for reliable detection.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201eThe camera technology was \u201elearnt\u201c using stored sample images that show the end product with spoons and different positions in the packaging. A neural network is trained with these images in a cloud application. This decision algorithm is then transferred to the camera system. It is then able to recognise the key image differences independently.\u201c<\/p>

Klaus Keitel<\/strong>, Strategic Account Manager at the company Sick<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>

The camera learns with every new image of every new product. At the Osthofen plant, up to 45,000 spoons are packed every day and the use of deep learning in the inspection process means that any missing spoons are noticed immediately. In this way, artificial intelligence can be used to reduce the error rate in the production process.<\/p>