The March 2014 issue of Food Engineering covers plant audits and how to minimize the food safety risk. Also covered: aseptic applications, raw material testing, and the fiscal benefits of automation.
A global food maker, a developer of certified audit programs and consultants discuss non-regulatory onsite plant audits and how they improve food safety, customer compliance and food quality.
A global food maker, a developer of certified audit programs and consultants discuss non-regulatory onsite plant audits and how they improve food safety, customer compliance and food quality.
You can send incoming raw material samples out to a third-party lab, but plenty of easy-to-use, rapid test kits can more quickly provide the results you need—right at your own facility.
A June 10, 2011 report on Deutsche Welle states “bean sprouts are the likely source of an E. coli outbreak in Germany that has killed 31 people and made nearly 3,000 ill since May [2011].” This information was attributed to Reinhard Burger, president of Germany’s federal infectious disease laboratory, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).
Over the last 10 to 15 years, more low- and high-acid products have been processed in ways designed to kill bacteria and extend the life of foods and liquids. Retort-style thermal processing, chilling and refrigeration steps and the use of preservatives remain the most common routes to produce shelf-stable foods and beverages in the US.
You may be able to use a spreadsheet or home accounting program to get your household finances in order. But, there are so many places for cash to evaporate in a food or beverage plant, that unless you are using an integrated software system to track and focus every process, you may never know if leaks exist.
FDA has published a proposed rule requiring shippers that transport food to use sanitary transportation practices. The action is being taken to comply with provisions of the Food Safety Modernization Act and covers shippers that use motor vehicles or rail.
Detectamet, a UK-based manufacturer of food-safe detectable products, developed its new detectable pallet wrap to reduce the contamination of finished food products.
Coca-Cola Amatil CCA won the 2013 Australian Packaging Design Award for a 600ml Powerade Sports bottle, an extremely lightweight, eco-friendly hot-fill bottle featuring a 38ml-wide neck closure.
Sustainability is a consumer trend that is transforming the packaging industry. The top three concerns in relation to beverage packaging include recycling or landfilling, renewable resources and energy, said Erin Reynolds, marketing director at Evergreen Packaging, at last year’s Sustainable Packaging Forum in St. Petersburg, FL.
Chlorine- and ammonia-based disinfectants and sanitizers are typically used as interventions or rinses to eliminate dangerous bacteria, fungi, viruses and foodborne pathogens on food preparation and food processing areas.
The newly passed Farm Bill reduces funding for SNAP, the federal food stamp program, by $8 billion and trims a number of subsidies for food producers. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) says the bill significantly increases support for fruits and vegetables growers and local food systems.
The recent ARC Industry Forum, held in Orlando FL, described an “industrial Internet of Things” (IoT) as being close at hand. In fact, many of the technologies are already here, but some still need work to provide the services and security industrial operations need.
Used to transport larger-sized liquid bottles, the Hexacomb HexStack paper-based packaging system features a single layer of honeycomb material custom-die cut to accommodate the specific bottle neck.
Suitable for food and beverage applications, the SAS SWM LK quick-change mounting plate is used to switch out end-of-arm tooling; an integrated pneumatic quick-disconnect system is incorporated in the design.
The OYSTAR A+F SetLine wraparound case packer end-of-line system packs single cups, cup sets and bottles of various shapes and sizes directly into trays or cases; it also sleeves primary packs into multi-packs prior to packing them.
Engineered for smaller regional producers of biscuits and crackers, RFC Bantam-Series Macrowave post-baking dryers are intended for up to 1m-wide bands producing 3,000 lb./hr. or less.
Integrated with a precision scale and digital controls, the ARPAC semi-automatic Pro Series LP Wrap-N-Weigh pallet stretch wrapper has a 4,000-lb. capacity.
Mouvex eccentric disc pumps for product-recovery operations in food and beverage manufacturing and handling produce a partial vacuum effect on the suction side and a compressor effect on the discharge side, creating a “plug” effect that pushes the remaining product out of the transfer line as a whole.
Used with PC pumps and associated products, the Moyno EZstrip transfer pump has a split coupling, offering direct access to the wear parts and rotating assemblies.
Eliminating the use of mercury to measure temperature, Ashcroft bimetal thermometers come with 2- to 5-in. dial diameters and in ranges from -80°F to 1,000°F and Celsius equivalents.
The Dorner 2200 Series SmartFlex flexible chain conveyor comes with a weighted take-up module with an adjustable slot that compensates to remove sag in the belt; the module can be positioned in a variety of locations along the conveyor.
Offering interchangeable tape and adhesive sealing, the A-B-C Model 436 case sealer is intended for snack manufacturers that ship products in a variety of packages including flexible bags, multipacks, cartons and rigid containers.
Running both clear and print-registered films, the Polypack CLEARPRINT shrink wrapper features chemical-resistant, high-visibility stainless steel door panels and stainless steel washdown motors.
Designed for ultra-high shear conditions and vigorous flow, the Ross PreMax batch-style rotor/stator mixer supports the high-speed production of fine dispersions and emulsions.
Developed for baked snack food producers, the Reading Thermal SCORPION 2 LITE temperature profiling package measures and monitors temperature levels in commercial ovens, cooling tunnels, freezers and dryers.
The Theegarten-Pactec HCW4 packaging machine seals preformed candies in bottom-fold wrap; individual products that are not wrapped or spliced are rejected during full machine operation.
EXAIR electrically powered, long ionizing bars eliminate static electricity on paper, film and plastics up to 96-in. wide; a high concentration of positive and negative ions produces static decay, neutralizing any surface within 2 in. of the bars.
Handling up to 180 products/min., the Bosch CCM 3100 case packer enables tool-less changeovers between vertical (standup) and horizontal (lay-flat) bag orientation.
Able to be installed directly on-machine, the Rockwell Allen-Bradley Armor GuardLogix programmable automation controller is IP67, SIL 3, PL(e) and CAT 4 rated.
Used for plant burner-boiler control, the FCI ST75 air/gas flow meter measures fuel gas, process gas, inert gas, waste gases and air in line sizes ranging from 1/4 to 2 in.
Engineered for ground meat, poultry and seafood, the Linde ACCU-CHILL bottom-injection chilling system chills proteins from the bottom of mixers and blenders.
Available in brass or stainless steel, Clark Solutions 8P Series direct-mount, pneumatic-actuated ball valves come with 2- or 3-way configurations and in 1/4- to 4-in. pipe sizes.