Lynas Foodservice utilises AI technology in assisting operations

The technology was provided by Lisburn based Integrated Process Control & Engineering (IPCE) who repurposed its technology and as a partner for Hikvision’s thermal and optical bi-spectrum camera range is able to detect symptomatic individuals that currently risk potential infection when working on-site.

The technology screens employees for a raised temperature, one of the key symptoms of coronavirus.

With advanced detectors and algorithms, temperature screening thermographic cameras are designed to detect elevated skin-surface temperatures, and can be used for rapid and preliminary temperature screening in office buildings, factories, stations, airports and other public places, with accuracy up to ±0.3°C. With a built-in AI algorithm, the system can also measure multiple people from a safe distance enabling fast assessment without personal contact.

Lynas Foodservice installed IPCE’s new technology at its Headquarters, the warehouse and administrative site situated in Coleraine.

Maurice Devenney, Group Facilities and H&S Manager at Lynas Foodservice said: “We have over 200 staff working at our site which operates six days per week in Coleraine and we moved to take extra steps in addition to government health and safety guidance to reduce the probability factor of infection rate and reassure our staff to feel more comfortable and confident in the work place. A high temperate is one of the symptoms of Covid-19 and the thermal imaging solution provides one layer of peace of mind to help mitigate the risk to our staff and is helping to keep our business operational during the pandemic.

“We installed IPCE’s solution of thermal imaging at two locations at our site in Coleraine, the team gave us a demonstration of how the product works and had the solution installed and up and running within a week of first contact. The system is not invasive, and our staff feel happier and confident in coming to work. They check their temperature each morning on arrival and can re-check their temperature at any stage during the day. The system has been up and running two weeks now and the staff barely notice it is operating quietly in the background checking all temperatures as we walk past the thermal imaging cameras.”

Conor Kearney, Managing Director of Integrated Process Control & Engineering (IPCE) continued: “Since COVID-19 arrived on the island of Ireland demand for technologies that promise to detect symptomatic individuals has been exceptionally high. Early on in the pandemic, we recognised the significance and benefits of thermal screening technology in major cities across Asia and worked fast to utilise our core competencies as a control systems developer to offer the same systems to our customer base in Ireland.

“Our solutions are highly efficient; taking less than one second to detect temperatures through non-contact measurement which can be achieved from a safe distance. If an individual is detected an audible and visual alarm is produced along with an e-mail notification to alert the designated person onsite responsible for screening. Both Heathrow Airport and Portsmouth Port have installed thermal imaging cameras and are leading the way in using this innovative technology to combat the spread of coronavirus.”

Stephen Kelly, Manufacturing NI added: “The manufacturing industry across Northern Ireland has been enormously disrupted by Covid-19 but have led the way in introducing systems and procedures to ensure a safe workplace and offer reassurance to colleagues and visitors. This technology can assist with stabilising operations alongside current safety measures and guidance.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.

You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk

With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Thank you