Together with DIL German Institute of Food Technologies e. V., Elea started a project to develop an inline measurement method for quality control of PEF treatment after the cutting process. The project is funded by the Investment and Development Bank of Lower Saxony (NBank) and is called “PICon”.
The treatment of food using pulsed electric fields (PEF) has become a technical standard in many areas of food processing, such as the potato industry. A subsequent proof of successful treatment and ongoing quality monitoring is currently only possible with a lot of efforts based on random samples, meaning that continuous and predictive monitoring is not possible. The research project is therefore focusing on the development of an inline process for quality control of PEF treatment following a cutting process.
The new inline method works as follows: During the cutting process, recordings of acoustic signals are evaluated and analysed using artificial intelligence.
This should enable the clear detection of an adequate PEF treatment. Incorrect treatments are recognised immediately, and a direct influence can be exerted on the entire process line.
If you have any questions about the project, please contact Claudia Siemer from Elea or Jens Schröder from DIL, who are coordinating the project.