Beverage Bottling Industry
UNISPECTRE 400
Highly efficient refPET Sniffer system to detect foreign substances and contaminants
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PET bottles in environmental closed loop recycling
Returnable PET bottles are regaining strength as environmentally friendly packaging for the beverage industry. Repeated use of lightweight products reduces plastic waste while also lowering carbon emissions. To meet the ever-increasing demands on quality and food safety, bottles must be effectively inspected for contamination using so-called “sniffer systems” before refilling.
UNISPECTRE 400 – sniffer system with outstanding sensitivity
UNISPECTRE 400 represents a new generation of sniffer technology. A new high-resolution spectrometer, which captures optoelectronic absorption spectra from each returnable bottle and evaluates them with AI-based algorithms, is the heart of the system. It was specially developed and optimized for use in the inspection of PET bottles to detect even the smallest traces of foreign substances and comply with increasingly stringent limit values for contamination. Contaminants that so far had been impossible to detect are now also reliably identified thanks to the system’s outstanding sensitivity. Contaminated bottles are safely sorted out, with a very low false rejection rate.
Non-contact sampling of up to 45,000 bottles per hour
The newly designed measuring cell enables efficient sampling of up to 45,000 bottles per hour. Contactless measurement via absorption spectroscopy requires fewer components than previous sniffer systems, making UNISPECTRE 400 more robust in general and extremely low maintenance. The compact, flow-optimized design ensures high measuring accuracy combined with low carryover effects. Foreign substances are thus reliably detected with an unprecedented detection range, while even highly contaminated bottles have hardly any effect on subsequent measurements.
Linear or rotary arrangement
The flexible, low-maintenance system can be used both in a linear arrangement above the conveyor belts and in a rotary arrangement with clamping stars. Both options benefit from the new development and associated advantages:
- Highly sensitive detection, even for the slightest traces of contaminants
- Low carryover effects with highly contaminated bottles
- Low false reject rate
- Robust and reliable technology with low maintenance requirements
- Easy operability
- Approved in the mineral water and soft drink industry
In addition, the new technology is also suitable as an upgrade for existing rotary systems.
The new UNISPECTRE 400 sniffer system was designed to increase the sensitivity level of the detection system as well as the range of detectable substances so that it can consequently meet the steadily rising quality requirements. The new product is based on more than 30 years of experience in the field of sensor based foreign substance detection.
Measuring principle | optoelectronic |
Line speed | <= 1.3 m/s |
Measuring speed | <= 45,000 bottles per hour |
Signal output | optical, acoustic, floating contact |
Power supply | 400 V AC, 3Ph, 50/60 Hz system voltage |
Operation pressure | 6 bar |
Operating temperature | 10 °C - 40 °C (< 80% humidity) |
Air supply | oil free, dry air, 6 - 10 bar |
Weight | 450 kg |
Dimensions (L x W x H) | 2,200 x 870 x 2,350 mm |