In the beverage industry, quality assurance is an important part of the process. After cans are filled with product, they are checked for proper fill level, and sometimes undergo additional tests to check for proper pressurization. Specialized equipment that utilizes X-Ray or Gamma sources shoots a beam through the opaque can to determine that the fill level is accurate, however if this equipment is not properly calibrated, it can cause many problems and delays for the product filling line and the business as a whole.

This solution to this is a product that I designed for Nomitech Inc. The OMIT Systems series of test cans are a product suite designed to allow beverage companies to easily test the operation of their equipment. It is designed to be intuitive to use, allowing plant managers to build in regular checks of equipment by whoever is operating the line, without need for mechanics or other personnel who would be responsible for adjusting the fill level inspection equipment. By running these routine checks, sometimes as often as every hour, product loss is minimized because any errors are caught as soon as possible. When running high speed manufacturing lines, any reduction in loss can result in significant savings.

While the basic test cans only check for fill level, other configurations allow operators to check for placement of can lids as well as pressure within the can, and are available with varying degrees of adjustability depending on the needs of the customer.

In order to manufacture the product line, I also set up a small scale 3d print farm. There are some significant benefits to using 3d printing for these test cans. First, the initial cost of production is greatly reduced, as no specialized moulds are required. Second, because no moulds are required, the product can be sized to the wide variety of cans that are utilized in the industry around the world. Nomitech currently supplies all of the standard cans for North America and Europe, and can produce specific sizes or custom shapes upon request. And third, it allows for extremely complex geometry to allow for easy user interaction with the product. The latest version of the test can, to be released later in 2024, utilizes geometry that is not able to be manufactured by traditional methods. However, by using a 3d printing manufacturing process, Nomitech will be able to bring the highest quality product to market and ensure that their customers are able to keep their equipment in top running condition.

For more information, please visit Nomitech-Inc.com