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Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems has developed a new food quality visualisation solution using time-temperature sensing ink, aiming to enable cost-effective quality monitoring and reduce waste.

The solution leverages ink that changes colour based on elapsed time and temperature, without requiring power or retrieval. This aims to simplify tracking temperature-sensitive products, improving product value.

Temperature control in the supply chain is critical, particularly for fresh produce and perishables. While existing solutions like temperature loggers can be costly, Hitachi said it can now provide a more practical and affordable alternative with its new innovation.

The time-temperature sensing ink provides visual indicators of accumulated temperature over time, enhancing transparency and allowing growers, retailers and wholesalers to optimise shipment and storage decisions.

It features a label printed with time-temperature sensing ink and a quality visualisation app. The label is attached to products and includes a two-dimensional code for tracking. By scanning the label with the app, users can determine accumulated temperature data, predict ripeness and identify the optimal time for consumption.

According to Hitachi, in a demonstration with melons, the ink’s temperature tracking matched traditional loggers and the app successfully predicted ripeness, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions and reduce waste.

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