Industry trends
With a declining working population, many industries are increasingly facing labor shortages. The food and beverage industry is subject to rigorous standards designed to ensure food safety, such as HACCP and other hygiene management efforts. It is vital to ensure traceability and stay up to date on these standards. You might be required to obtain new certifications requested by your clients. In addition, meeting the needs of the market with a limited workforce requires updating equipment, streamlining operations and boosting productivity.
On the other hand, all industries face a common challenge regarding environmental issues. As climate change intensifies and demands that corporations fulfill their responsibilities increase, business partners, consumers and other stakeholders are placing increasing importance on environmental considerations. Production sites are expected to swiftly implement energy-saving and decarbonization measures, alongside the needed productivity improvements.
Solutions
Below, we explain the solutions that Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems can provide, using examples of common issues in the food and beverage industry.
Shortening and streamlining everyday operations
Operational inefficiency combined with labor shortages often make it difficult to allocate more employees to priority areas, so that workloads are concentrated on experienced engineers. The industry needs to address the shortage of truck drivers and to revise working hours, so streamlining delivery is also important. This in turn requires shortening the time that lines are stopped for repairs, maintenance and similar operations.
Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems’ IoT-based equipment monitoring service can enable users to remotely check equipment conditions in real time. The service automatically sends alarms when there is an abnormality, minimizing the need to visually monitor processes. This facilitates the purchase of parts that regularly need to be replaced and reduces downtime. If handling power outages during maintenance is challenging, we are able to propose replacement circuit breakers that are highly compatible with older equipment. Minimizing switchboard modification during construction shortens the time spent replacing circuit breakers. We can offer long-term cost advantages by shortening and streamlining everyday operations.
Common challenges
- Improve the efficiency of inspection processes
- Shorten line downtime during regular repairs
- Long air shower wait times hinder workforce expansion
Example solutions
- The remote monitoring of equipment using computers and smart devices streamlines operations.
- Highly compatible circuit breakers minimize replacement time.
- The newest shower system model shortens waiting times.
Related products and solutions
Hitachi Connected Service
An IoT-enabled equipment monitoring service that helps reduce downtime by quickly detecting abnormalities.
i-moni low-voltage insulation monitoring system
A 24-hour low-voltage insulation monitoring system. i-moni prevents accidents such as electrical fires and sudden power outages.
Switches, circuit breakers and high-voltage equipment
We have a broad lineup of products that meet specific needs and purposes, such as circuit breakers compatible with older equipment.
Air cleaners
Equipped with a new flutter jet nozzle, the air cleaners eliminate more dust. Corrosion-resistant stainless housings are also available.
- The availability of products and services may vary depending on your country or region. For more information, please contact your local distributor.
It also contributes to energy savings and environmental sustainability.
The industry as a whole must consider the environment. This demands measures that increase energy efficiency, reduce water and power consumption and achieve decarbonization and carbon neutrality at production sites.
Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems offers an extensive range of energy-saving, high-efficiency products that help factories save energy. These include air compressors and green products that help reduce the environmental impact. We also strive to balance the stable supply of products with a reduced environmental impact by implementing a recurring business model to support the entire process from use to maintenance, replacement and recycling.
Common challenges
- Minimizing factor power consumption
- Tackling initiatives for reducing factory CO2 emissions
- Reducing environmental pollution risks
Example solutions
- Proposing optimal solutions from among many energy-saving products
- Building an efficient system for reusing waste heat from air compressors
- Using transformers with soybean-based insulation oil to reduce pollution risks
Related products and solutions
Air compressors
Available in series ranging from small to large, we offer optimal air compressor options with the right quantity, voltage and for the right place.
Transformers
Our transformers help stabilize power supply while improving energy efficiency and disaster preparedness. We have an extensive lineup of transformers, ranging from high voltage to extra-high voltage transformers.
SANFEMS neo
A comprehensive factory energy monitoring system. It examines how energy is used and rationalizes and optimizes equipment operations.
Green products
We have a broad range of green products, including energy-saving, high efficiency and eco-friendly options.
- The availability of products and services may vary depending on your country or region. For more information, please contact your local distributor.
Traceability adapted to the specific site
Any business involving food must ensure traceability. When an accident occurs, it is important to quickly and correctly learn when, where and how it occurred. Traceability regulations are rigorous in Japan and overseas and customers often ask that companies disclose information related to traceability. Increasingly, companies are revising their management practices, for instance by shifting from lot management to individual management to strengthen their responsiveness, or introducing enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and manufacturing execution systems (MES) to centralize the management of data from factories.
Based on the knowledge obtained by the Hitachi Group, Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems provides support throughout the entire process from the proposal of ERP and MES to post-introduction maintenance. Naturally, we can also propose products linked to existing ERP software and MESs. We also have products and options to meet many different worksite needs, such as inkjet printers for lot printing, inspection devices to ensure the correctness of printed characters and marking cell systems to centralize their management.
Common challenges
- Introduce MES and ERP software and accelerate the identification of problems and their causes
- Shift from lot management to individual management to ensure correct management
- Quickly identify the faulty equipment that caused a problem
Example solutions
- Provide support leveraging the Hitachi Group's extensive knowledge.
- Link the system with equipment in the factory and provide data from specific pieces of equipment using QR codes.
- A system for recording all results images as well as the pass/failure results of inspections
Related products and solutions
Inkjet printer for industrial applications
The printer's functionality enables it to fulfill many different printing needs, and it has become easier to install. Usability and maintainability have also been improved.
Laser markers
Many different materials and high-precision printing laser markers are easy to introduce on high-speed lines, such as plastic bottle lines.
Printing inspection devices
The unique verification inspection overlooks no print failures, providing peace of mind.
Marking cell system
Package products equipped with much-needed standard functions. Centralized control of different pieces of equipment helps clients achieve DX.
- The availability of products and services may vary depending on your country or region. For more information, please contact your local distributor.
Provision of products to support rigorous hygiene management
Since 2021, hygiene management in line with HACCP has become required in Japan. Hygiene management requirements are becoming increasingly stringent worldwide. More than a few global companies and major companies include compliance with HACCP and standards that include additional requirements in their terms for transactions.
Some standards require that impurities be eliminated from compressed air and recommend the use of oil-free compressors. Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems meets the needs of its customers with an assortment of oil-free compressors that meet customers' needs in a broad range of applications. Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems product line includes quiet and compact products, and products that can be used in small factories where storage space is limited and factories that are near residential areas. Casters and tanks may be installed on some of the products. Cleaning the area around the equipment is also easy.
Common challenges
- Oil-free compressors suited for specific applications
- Desire for smaller and quieter air compressors
- A space for moving the equipment to for cleaning is needed
Example solutions
- A lineup of products that are compatible with a broad range of electrical systems, from 0.2 to 780 kW
- Ultra-small and quiet air compressors and nitrogen gas generators are available
- Air compressors equipped with casters and tanks would make cleaning easier
Related products
Air compressors
Available in series ranging from small to large, we offer optimal air compressor options with the right quantity, voltage and for the right place.
Nitrogen gas generators
Nitrogen gas made from air can be supplied at low cost. The products maintain an oil-free environment.
- The availability of products and services may vary depending on your country or region. For more information, please contact your local distributor.
The expertise of the Hitachi Group is leveraged in consulting activities
The needs of production sites are complex. For example, companies want to keep their equipment introduction and maintenance costs low, but they want to improve their equipment. Measures to save energy and connect with local facilities must also be considered. Comprehensive system optimization requires expertise in both the IoT and equipment operations.
Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems combines high-quality products with digital solutions to propose solutions tailored to the customer’s needs. This ability leverages the extensive expertise and experience accumulated by the Hitachi Group. Leveraging its comprehensive capabilities, we deliver innovative solutions to even tough challenges. For example, we propose maintenance plans that balance stable operation with the optimization of costs and efficient systems using operation data. We can also provide support for addressing environmental issues, such as the need to save energy and recycle products throughout factories. With a one-stop solution, we handle the entire process from the introduction of products to system development, maintenance and environmental measures. We partner with our customers to create new value.
Common challenges
- Problems are so wide-ranging that it is hard to know where to begin
- Creating a budget for investing in and maintaining equipment is difficult
- Managing all equipment in-house is difficult
Example solutions
- Providing consulting services on the optimal use of equipment, based on a holistic view of the production site
- Additionally considering equipment leases and subscription services when discussing plans
- Analyzing data to look for telltale signs of wear and proposing preemptive maintenance
Related products and solutions
LCM services
LCM services optimize production sites. They support the entire process from equipment introduction to maintenance and energy-saving activities.
- The availability of products and services may vary depending on your country or region. For more information, please contact your local distributor.
Inquiries
Contact us for inquiries about our products and quotations.
