CommodiTrack is a dynamic, interactive platform that allows users to track, forecast and strategise to improve supply chain resiliency. (Image source: Helios)

Helios Artificial Intelligence, Inc., the leading AI company that predicts the price and availability of agricultural commodities, recently launched CommodiTrack, a revolutionary AI platform that gives agrifood buyers and traders unprecedented access to the climate risks impacting the commodities they care about

CommodiTrack is a dynamic, interactive platform that allows users to track, forecast and strategise to improve supply chain resiliency. The platform uses Helios’ proprietary climate risk data set which includes over 500 billion unique risk signals generated by custom machine learning models specific to more than 50 crops being tracked, rather than generic weather information, giving users a unique advantage to predict where and why disruptions are likely to occur.

CommodiTrack not only transforms how users interact with and interpret agricultural commodity data, but also integrates critical elements such as climate risk factors, price forecasting, demand and supply signals and more — data that was previously scattered or inaccessible — all on one platform, providing not only comprehensive data but also actionable insights.

One of the unique features of CommodiTrack is the WA%R (Weighted Average Risk Ratio), a proprietary metric that quantifies climate risk by assessing the number of high-risk locations within the global market. The higher the WA%R, the greater the likelihood of a price shift for the commodity in question.

The CommodiTrack dashboard also offers a range of features tailored to meet the needs of commodity traders, procurement leaders and market analysts including climate risk analysis, price forecasting & trading signals, trade insights, climate change trends, supply chain visibility and expansive news coverage. While the initial release of the product focused on the top eight globally traded commodities such as corn and wheat, the platform analyses billions of signals in real time to empower organizations to be one step ahead of the market. 

“The launch of CommodiTrack is our response to the urgent needs of our customers in the face of  increasing climate disruptions. Agrifood buyers and traders have never seen this level of climate and price volatility before, and the tools they’ve historically relied on are no longer working,” said Francisco Martin-Rayo, co-founder and CEO of Helios. “With this new platform, we are democratising access to the world’s best climate risk information so our customers can quickly identify and react to the climate risks impacting their supply chains.” 

Advanced Navigation Introduces the Certus Mini Series. (Advanced Navigation)

Advanced Navigation, a world leader in navigation and autonomous systems, has announced the expansion of its versatile Certus range, with the new Mini series

Available in three variants, the Certus Mini series includes a GNSS-aided Certus Mini D and Certus Mini N inertial navigation system (INS), while Certus Mini A functions as an attitude and heading reference system (AHRS). The series which weighs only 55 g offers impressive performance, while also being cost-efficient. 

Future of navigation

Seamless integration

Rapid delivery and in-house manufacturing

The new product weighs dumplings mainly into 400g packs but is able to handle a large variety of pack weights. (Image source: Ishida)

Wierzejki, one of Poland’s largest meat manufacturers has installed a new Ishida multihead weigher, significantly improving the line throughputs

This has been achieved when packing the company’s new range of dumplings, with the investment resulting in a payback of approximately 18 months. Previously a laborious and time-consuming hand packing operation that required six people to achieve the 1.2 tonnes of dumplings to be packed every hour, the Ishida CCW-RVE-214W-1S-30-WP has considerably reduced overall losses from 5% to less that 2% per pack. 

The new product weighs dumplings mainly into 400g packs but is able to handle a large variety of pack weights, including multiple weighments into the same pack for very large foodservice packs, using the 'multi-dump' mode. This gives Wierzejki the flexibility to respond quickly to market and customer demands. Equally important, the consistency of pack weights that the Ishida weigher delivers helps to enhance the consumer experience to support Wierzejki’s premium brand image.

Featuring a patented Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) technology, the Ishida RVE model provides greater control of the infeed of product at the top of the weigher and during transfer to the hoppers. By being able to automatically vary both the amplitude and duration of vibration, the vibratory feeders deliver a controlled and consistent flow of product in order to maintain speed and efficiencies while virtually eliminating overfill in the hoppers. Embossed surfaces facilitate a smooth product flow throughout the weigher. A special distribution system beneath the Ishida weigher provides a fast and efficient transfer of dumplings into the thermoforming machine.

Thanks to its intuitive touch screen operation, the Ishida multihead which is in operation for 12 hours each day requires only one operator to supervise the line, with set up and changeovers being easy to undertake. Moreover, the weigher’s modular design allows easy removal and replacement of contact parts for a fast and thorough daily clean down.

This is the second Ishida multihead weigher to be installed at Wierzejki and like the first, which Wierzejki reports has been working perfectly for over two years, the new model has proved extremely reliable. The weigher was installed by Ishida’s long term local partner in Poland, Fenix Systems, with the installation being completed in under two days. Fenix also hosted a a one-day workshop to help operators familiarise themselves with the machine, as well as providing ongoing remote technical support.

“Precision is everything in our business and this was the driving force behind our investment in the Ishida solution,” said Adam Zdanowski from Wierzejki. “Our new Ishida weigher has given us increased accuracy and efficiency, and no downtime, together with excellent service and support, all of which are delivering significant improvements to the bottom line.” 

The beaters are equipped with spirals and bolted Hardox steel teeth to guarantee a long service life and an optimal crumbling quality. (Image source: JOSKIN)

The Siroko, an entry-level muck spreader from JOSKIN, offers capacities from 5 to 13 cu m, and is part of a range of six models, four of which have vertical beaters and two have horizontal beaters with a spreading table

It is characterised by its lightness, sturdiness and easy maintenance, as well as by its narrow galvanised body and wide wheels, which offer a great manoeuvrability and enhanced stability on hilly terrain. Designed in high tensile steel, the Siroko is sturdy and dynamical without extra reinforcements, which reduces its empty weight. It has a standard drawbar suspension with cross spring leaves, providing driving comfort even at high speeds and over rough terrain.

The two oversized beaters guarantee efficient crumbling and easy product passage, with a moving floor made of shipping chains and closed profile slats, fitted on a bolted galvanised floor. The spreading width varies from 7 to12 m, depending on the product, thanks to the rotation of the beaters at a speed of 423 rpm and their large 900 mm diameter, ensuring an efficient spreading system.

The beaters are equipped with spirals and bolted Hardox steel teeth to guarantee a long service life and an optimal crumbling quality. In addition, two retractable blades at the base of the beaters act like a 'splitting' hammer to ensure high-quality spreading.

In short, the Siroko stands out for its sturdy design, ease of use and manure spreading efficiency, providing farmers with a reliable, cost-effective equipment for their spreading needs.