To view and print a full specification for the DM32 Utilities Logger with Internet Communications CLICK HERE

CASE STUDY - POOD PROCESSING

Food manufacturers are required to monitor and record Critical Control Point (CCP) information as a part of a compliant HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) system. Record-keeping is critical to a food safety auditor’s determination of compliance.

Depending upon the type of food being processed the critical control points will change. The safety of some products is temperature dependent whereas for others sanitizing is critical to ensure bacteria counts are at the required level prior to the product being frozen or chilled for transport and sale. In the poultry processing industry for example, both temperature and sanitization are critical to effective production.

Current practices of determining the operating quality of sanitized water in the poultry processing industry requires the periodic measurement of free chlorine and pH.  From an operational standpoint, automated measurement of pH is practical and already in place in many applications Much thought must be given to the sampling method as pH probes can notoriously become saturated with fats and greases and perform sub-optimally as a consequence. Automated measurement of free chlorine however requires expensive apparatus and fats or oils once again need to be considered for their impact on probe efficiency. This has traditionally made automated monitoring solutions problematic and expensive!

Current practical methods of data collection involve manual immersion of sensitive strips followed by colour matching to standards or involve the use of hand-held probes. These methods cannot provide alerts when water parameters are changing nor can a manufacturer be certain the readings are being consistently taken from the same point. The method is also limited by the ability to match colours by eye and relies upon people not forgetting to sample. The method often results in over-dosing of chlorine because of its inherent imprecision.

An alternative method of determining the sanitizing quality of the water is to utilise the measurement of ORP (Oxidation Reduction Potential) along with the measurement of pH.  ORP is a direct measure of the effectiveness of the free chlorine in the water and varies with changes in chlorine levels and also with changes in pH.  Harvard University has concluded and published the recommendation that ORP levels for poultry sanitization be above 625mV.  As measurement of both pH and ORP can be mechanized, a continual monitoring process has been developed by DAN that can be implemented with alarms generated by changes being sent in real time. The financial benefits are in reduction in chlorine usage (and cost) reduction in sampling labour cost and improved sanitizing leading to the option for shelf-life extension. The food safety benefits come from greater control over a critical process.

As can be seen from the sample data below, DAN presents an AVERAGE, a MAXIMUM and a MINIMUM for each reporting period, for each critical control point. DAN systems automatically generate the information necessary to fulfill the requirements of HACCP record-keeping.

The system provides data available for viewing on a web site accessible from any computer via the internet (Passwords and login ID’s protect the data).  In addition, alarms may be generated by email and SMS to preset conditions also input via the internet.

DAN has also developed an Operator’s Console view that can be used within a factory by Supervisors, Quality Controllers and Operators to constantly monitor the process at a glance.

The above graphic is representative of the DAN Console view.

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE

There is a significant body of scientific evidence constructed by large ‘learning’ organisations that support the use of ORP measurement and the correlation between ORP levels and the survival rates of micro organisms. The table below provides a useful summary.

 Before DAN developed the ORP monitoring system for poultry processing, automated monitoring was cumbersome, expensive and unreliable. Similarly, manual monitoring and record-keeping was a less than ideal solution.

DAN currently sells and installs food processing equipment at a fraction of the cost of alternatives and is proud of what it has achieved whilst working hand-in-hand with major manufacturers.

To access a pdf version of this case study CLICK HERE

What is TRUE data monitoring?

True data monitoring is in place when there is a system that is automated (i.e. it is not dependent on human action) and which collects data routinely and stores that data so it cannot be tampered with and it cannot be lost. True data monitoring also does not allow humans to interpret what they believe the data should be!

Data Acquisition Networks provides true data monitoring. Inputs are polled each second and the data averaged and a maximum and a minimum for the ‘reporting period’ transferred automatically to a website where it is stored for access by those with password authorisation. The data is accessed in much the same way as you retrieve your banking details.

Data Acquisition Networks provides true data monitoring solutions for minimal cost.

Contact Data Acquisition Networks
by email or if you prefer, Telephone +61 2 8838 2358

Food Standards Australia requires businesses to prepare and sell food that is safe to eat. Food causes illness because there are high levels of food-poisoning bacteria and these poisons are called toxins. “A way of preventing or limiting bacteria from multiplying or producing toxins in food is to control the temperature of the food by either keeping it cold or very hot”. Food Standards Australia requires potentially hazardous foods to be kept at 5degC or colder and prescribes that it is “safe for food to be between 5degC and 60degC for a limited time only”. Health regulators and inspectors commonly refer to the range between 5degC and 60degC as the DANGER ZONEfor perishable foods. Food Standards Australia defines potentially hazardous foods as foods that might contain food-poisoning bacteria and which will allow food-poisoning bacteria to multiply. Examples of potentially hazardous foods are listed as raw and cooked meat, smallgoods, dairy products, seafood, processed fruit and vegetables, cooked rice and pasta, foods containing eggs, beans and nuts and foods that contain these foods for example sandwiches and rolls. Many of these food types are also the foods that are inclusions in a balanced and nutritious diet.  Food Standards Australia also requires that potentially hazardous frozen foods are kept frozen when they are stored, displayed or transported. Whilst no specific temperature is specified for frozen food it must be kept frozen to remain safe. Temperature abuse of frozen food can also have a detrimental impact on eating quality. It is commonly accepted that -18degC is a safe temperature at which frozen food should be stored. It is also generally agreed that infrequent but consistent temperature abuse can have a detrimental impact on the shelf-life of food and with some foods temperature abuse can also affect its nutrient value. Food Standards Australia prescribes food that has been temperature abused for a continuous period of greater than 4-hours should be discarded. The NSW Food Authority recommends perishable foods should not be left in the danger zone for longer than 2-hours!

http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/consumers/keeping-food-safe/#How-can-I-make-sure-my-food-is-safe

 Data Acquisition Networks (DAN) provides cost effective temperature data loggers that automate data collection thereby enabling trained and experienced people to make jusgments on the suitability of food for human consumption. 

Contact Data Acquisition Networks
by email today and we will respond
quickly to your request.

If you prefer, Telephone +61 2 8838 2358

The answer to this question lies in:

1. The extent to which a temperature data logger automates the process of data collection
2. Whether data monitoring is continuous
3. Flexibility in system set-up

Temperature data loggers supplied by Data Acquisition Networks have an A+ rating on each of these criteria. Data collection is 24/7 and not just when someone has the time, data monitoring is continuous enabling food storage history to be tracked without gaps and the DAN website enables the user to logon much as you do to your bank account and change system parameters and set up alarms.

 Data Acquisition Networks is committed to ‘excellence and affordable solution’ for temperature data logging!

Companies that develop plans and protocols and then fail to continuously monitor compliance fail the test of due diligence. In the event of a mishap they cannot produce any evidence they took the time or made the effort to care about what they are doing!

Data Acquisition Networks is able to use new-age data logging technology to monitor compliance and to collect independent evidence of your due diligence. In the unhappy event that you  ever need to produce that evidence, DAN clients are able to do so in what is a powerful and effective display of due diligence. Those that don’t have a day when the evidence needs to be produced just ’sleep more peacefully’ at night in the knowledge they have an independent and automatically continuous process in place that will alert them if things should ever go wrong.

When you buy a product you need to know there is a strong support team behind it with problem-solving and ’support’ capabilities.Data Acquisition Networks has very strong technical leadership that is able to custom design solutions for almost any industry. Heading up this team is Bruce Davis and Ian Schmahmann. Bruce has a strong industrial marketing background.  He has worked in senior management roles requiring “hands on” expertise in construction, project management, manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, technical development and sales marketing.  Bruce is a Degree qualified electrical engineer BSc Eng (EE), and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD).  Recent senior management appointments have seen Bruce involved in implementing change in technically sophisticated and financially difficult environments. Ian Schmahmann graduated from Natal University in South Africa in 1976 with a B-Sc Electrical Engineering (Light Current). Since 1978, Ian has been professionally involved in the design and implementation of industrial measurement and control products and systems.  He has had the full range of experience in this field from hands-on bread-boarding and developing circuits through to leading teams of hardware and software design engineers as well as marketing products nationally and internationally. The DAN team can design your solution and provide the back-up support necessary to give you the confidence you need that your data logger will always deliver the data you need when you need it. 

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

Almost everyone around the world is talking about understanding our environment better. Data Acquisition Networks is doing something about it!

Data Acquisition Networks (DAN) has been supplying environmental monitoring equipment since 2004. Because those parts of the environment we need to monitor are not always where we live and work, the collection, aggregation and presentation of ‘realtime’ data is not always easy. DAN now has the solution.

Older generation monitoring equipment logged data at a site that then needed to be visited for collection. As improvements were made data was ‘dumped’ to a central server at the end of each day but even those methods had problems and newer, more reliable methods were required.

The DM01 supplied by Data Acquisition Networks (DAN)was one of the first remote data logging units that could reliably transmit data as frequently as it is required by either using the mobile phone network or satellite. DAN’s unique technology ensures satellite transmission costs never get out of control. DAN systems transmit data every hour, or even more frequently when it is needed. Data is transferred to a secure website and therefore DAN data can never be tampered with by those who might for whatever reason choose to do so. All software required or set up and to facilitate ongoing changes is on the web site. No software to buy or update!

DAN units can be programmed via the web site to send alarms when alarm conditions are met and to send alarm reset messages when conditions return to normal. Site actions may also be initiated such as automatic samplers etc.

DAN systems can log and transmit almost any data required for environmental monitoring including salinity, rainfall wind speed and/or direction humidity, water level, flow and solar information..

The DAN system is very easy and very cost effective to use. Website passwords can be allocated to different users enabling them to have differing levels of access to data. Some can have access enabling them to change alarm conditions for example whilst others can simply have access to data. The DAN website logs data and makes it available immediately to those who need to use it.