Practical business information is a precious commodity-concise and current information is even more invaluable. The issues of Food Engineering that you receive each month are a testament to that. They are a resource that you turn to for the latest food manufacturing and operations news and industry information.

Food Engineering is committed to providing useful, timely and accurate information of the high-caliber that you're accustomed to as one of our readers.

Food Engineering's parent company, BNP Media, proudly announces the launch of BNP Media LINX: a robust, user-friendly online search engine, powered by Google, that crawls across the varied industries served by BNP Media publications-manufacturing, security systems, architecture and construction, food and packaging, HVACR, industrial machinery and plumbing-to retrieve and deliver pertinent industry information.

LINX provides you with immediate access to logged, organized and fully searchable past-issue archives, industry information, classified ads, products and services, plus much more. It is designed to benefit industry professionals by bringing you the latest news concerning your field and connecting you to BNP Media's array of industry-specific titles, events, award-winning columnists and the superior information that we've been providing for more than 77 years.

LINX will help you narrow your search results and pull timely information from a trusted source. You can access BNP Media LINX at www.bnpmedialinx.com or view all of BNP Media's websites at www.bnpmedia.com/websites.htm

Food Plant of the Year competition to mark its 28th year.

The Call for Entries for Food Engineering's 2005 Plant of the Year competition is now underway. If you are building a new plant or undergoing a major expansion or renovation project that will be completed in 2004, your plant is eligible to enter the competition.

Entries will be judged according to the following criteria: contribution to the company's actual or projected long-term business plan; level of innovation in processing and packaging line design; building and site design innovation; productive integration of workforce into the overall plan; on-time/on-budget performance; food safety innovation; use of automation and software technologies; flexible manufacturing; supply chain management and enterprise resource planning; worker safety innovation; and environmental impact.

A detailed narrative of at least ten pages describing the plant, based on the criteria above, is required. High quality, clearly captioned photographs of the plant's processing and packaging lines must also accompany the entry.

The facility must be available for a visit by Food Engineering staff in January or February 2005.

Any finished food or beverage processing company, design, architectural, engineering or consulting firm, as well as a major supplier to the plant, is eligible to submit an entry.

If you are interested in joining the ranks of past Food Plant of the Year winners such as Pepperidge Farm, Frito-Lay, Coors and Dannon, please email me at fasslj@bnpmedia.com to receive an official entry form as well as complete instructions for entering the competition. I look forward to hearing about your manufacturing triumphs!