IMA Coffee Hub on its latest automation-based software and how it helps to deliver product line transparency.
As automated technology continues to progress, so do developments in precision and control. The latest innovation from coffee processing plant solution provider IMA Coffee Hub is its Roasting Director Suite, a versatile software panel that includes a variety of roasting control systems to improve these factors.
Nicola Panzani, CEO of IMA Petroncini and Commercial Director of IMA Coffee Hub, says the new technology is designed to provide flexibility and quality consistency for medium- and large-scale roasters via its full suite of interacting solutions.
“IMA provides a range of roasting control software: semi-automatic control Maestro Avantgarde for specialty roasters, and fully automatic Opera 30 and Orchestra controls for industrial roasters up to 720 kilograms,” says Nicola.
Understanding that industrial roasters are regularly required to change roasting recipes at short notice, Nicola highlights that Orchestra has been specially designed to respond to these needs.
“Orchestra is our most advanced roasting control system and is capable of keeping quality consistent – from the first batch when the machine is cold to the last roasting cycle – to guarantee consistency in final colour, moisture, and taste over time,” he says.
As part of its drive for continuous improvement, IMA has collaborated with research institutes and experts in automation technologies to launch an exciting new project, which it hopes to integrate into its intelligent roasting software.
“The AI-Learning to Roast project focuses on machine learning intelligence,” says Nicola.
“Addressing the increasing need for targeted coffee profiles, it details how certain AI algorithms can anticipate unexpected situations and minimise fine-tuning operations.”
Nicola says that for roasting plants, coffee product customisation and quality assurance is essential, and that Roasting Director Suite users can take full control of these parameters through its automatic data exchange feature.
“For coffee producers, product customisation and packaging quality assurance are essential factors that led us to design the Coffee Control Room. With this application they can take full control of the process parameters through its automatic data exchange feature,” he says.
“It is tailored to suit the productive needs of medium-size and industrial plants, enabling users to carefully trace and monitor production lines through its smart features in order to monitor and control overall plant production.
“The advantage of our exchange data feature is that it can automate production flow from raw coffee receiving up to the final package, providing full visibility and traceability of the product.”
According to Nicola, the company has seen automation integrate into every part of the coffee supply chain. He details how the Coffee Control Room can monitor each step of coffee processing and packaging.
“The system summarises daily roasting production through its dashboard interface and can identify the quantity of the coffee in the storage silos – green, roasted, or ground. This helps to avoid any production and contamination errors,” says Nicola.
“Modern production facilities often make use of complex and varied equipment, and an integration of technologies can make it difficult to keep track of production, limiting traceability.
“This is why we created a very easy, integrable system. The unique dashboard combines roasting and packaging data with systems to manage the plant, creating a fully automatic end-to-end solution.”
Developed to provide full transparency to the operator, the Coffee Control Room is equipped with smart functions that are programmed to identify under-performing components and keep roasting and packaging machines running optimally.
“Through alarms and smart tips, the software provides real-time information on machines and plant performance. The prompts given by the system aim to minimise downtime and create optimal workflow,” he says.
“This makes it possible to increase the yield of production batches and decrease the number of discarded parts, also making it cost effective for the company.”
The Coffee Control Room is a great example of IMA Coffee Hub’s spirit for innovation, as well as its dedication to helping coffee roasters in the industry.
“IMA Coffee Hub strives to answer the needs of the rapidly evolving coffee industry and engineer quality solutions to enhance the performance of its customers.
“It covers all aspects of processing and packaging – from consultancy and design to production planning and turnkey solutions – providing fully automatic lines,” says Nicola.
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This article appears in the August/September 2024 edition of BeanScene. Subscribe HERE.
