The April 2015 issue of Food Engineering features the Plant of the Year: Mars Chocolate. The first new Mars chocolate candy plant in North America in 35 years is not only LEED Gold certified, it’s highly automated as well.
As a kid growing up on a poultry farm, I couldn’t wait to help my dad truck cases of eggs to the local co-op, but I confess to an ulterior motive—hitting the candy machine just inside the door for a SNICKERS bar.
While regulators creep closer toward adopting parts of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) has taken center stage as food and beverage manufacturers seek the best ways to stay compliant, avoid costly recalls and provide an easier audit experience.
Just before this issue of Food Engineering hit the printing press, the food and beverage manufacturing community awoke one morning to hear the news that Kraft and Heinz are merging to form The Kraft Heinz Company.
As vacuum skin packaging (VSP) is becoming more commonplace on retail shelves, suppliers have been concentrating on how to make it more environmentally friendly.
Not so long ago, canned beer was looked down on as inferior to its bottled counterpart, but that bad reputation seems to be fading as a new breed of brewers are bringing the can back.
Some food producers and manufacturers are taking issue with the federal government’s 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) recommendations that were issued in mid-February.
Enabling the evaluation of the results of a pest management program and reacting to make measureable adjustments, the PestPac LogIt electronic logbook gives users and McCloud personnel immediate access to data trends.
Self regulating, the Sidel Intelliblower system automatically detects and corrects process deviations in a blow molding process, analyzing and controlling the blowing curve on each PET bottle.
Intended for sauces, dressings, pastes, dips, soups and other prepared food applications, the Tetra Pak PF pasteurizer switches readily between hot- and ambient-filled products; it allows moving from one recipe to another with the push of a button.
The Alliance-Ohaus MB-Series moisture analyzer utilizes an infrared halogen heating element with a gold reflective housing that reaches 200°C within seconds to dry samples.
Visual Workplace Glow Floor-Mark peel-and-stick glow-in-the dark safety tape glows brightest for the first 60 min. and fades to remain lightly visible in total darkness for several hours.
The LM76 DEFENDER 1 Nitride-Plus hardened steel linear rail and roller block system is designed to operate in high-cycling food processing and packaging equipment applications.
The Hydro-Thermal SilverLine self-contained, continuous food and beverage processing system cooks recipes as specified, replacing heat exchangers and kettles.
Engineered for end-of-line packaging operations, the Combi RCE robotic random case erector combines a 6-axis robot with multiple case magazines and a bottom flap folder with integrated tape head.
H.B. Fuller Sesame dry end tapes are applied on the dry end of a corrugator for handle reinforcement, easy-opening/closing applications and retail-ready packaging.
The Brookfield DV1 continuous sensing digital viscometer offers multiple language choices and a user interface with 3 hot keys for spindle selection, test speed and other functions.
The TDEPD all-digital electronic pressure transducer/switch has a programmable 360° marquee display that can be set to revolve, hold at a fixed angle or inverted for upside-down installations of the sensor.
Used to separate wheat starch and gluten or extract animal or vegetable fat and oil, the Flottweg Tricanter decanter separates 2 liquid phases from a solid phase, as long as they cannot dissolve in each other.
Capable of turning disparate manufacturing data into actionable manufacturing intelligence, the Hertzler GainSeeker Suite Version 8.4 contains applications for overall equipment efficiency, statistical process control, defect management and overpack.
Moore THZ3 and TDZ3 Smart 2-wire, loop-powered HART temperature transmitters provide an isolated and linear 4-20mA output proportional to input; they accept a direct signal input from a variety of sensors and analog devices.
Intended for small stepper and BLDC motors with a continuous output up to 70W, the Nanotec CL3-E controller is suitable for laboratory automation equipment.
The Munson Model 24-RDS-72 rotary drum screen removes solids from industrial waste streams and recovers solid product from food process streams at rates from 600 to 2,790 gal./min. without blinding or clogging the screen.
Engineered to handle food waste and byproducts, SP Industries food compactor systems are used in processing, reclamation and waste stream applications.
Capable of running at speeds over 1,000 cartons/min., PMI VL all-servo, vertical top-load cartoners handle multiple applications such as confectionery, food and beverage, pet foods and nutritional products.
Featuring interchangeable slits to adjust resolution and throughput on demand, indicator LEDs and device connectors, the Ocean Optics Flame miniature spectrometer can be employed in food manufacture quality labs or integrated on production lines for a range of UV-Vis reflected color measurements.
Created for larger commercializations of food-grade bottles and containers, Phoenix LNOc melt-formed rPET pellet can be bulk handled and transported without affecting the color and low acetaldehyde attributes of the original compacted resin.
Acting as visual alarms for industrial safety, Pfannenberg PYRA-M flashing strobe lights come in a pyramid design and choice of 5 or 10 joule flash energy.
Featuring an IP67-rated glass-filled polypropylene housing, Hayward ECP Series thermoplastic quarter-turn electric actuators come in a variety of sizes with 115/230V and 12/24V voltages.
Offering data collection from remote points, Hansford HS-SC compact stainless steel enclosures come with up to 6 channels for industrial environments and process conditions where vibration measurement is required.
A compact motion control positioner, the Equipment Solutions LFA-2010 linear focus actuator is intended for optical applications requiring high-speed positioning over a short to medium stroke.
Approved for food contact, Morgan pump components include a variety of axial and radial bearings, seal face components, rotors and vanes in a range of sizes and compositions.
Available with measurement ranges from 0.1 to 60 gpm, Gems RotorFlow electronic flow sensors feature a paddlewheel design that combines composite rotors and solid-state electronics.
The Sodimate mechanical silo unloader features a vertical spindle fitted with flexible blades to ensure the discharge of dry powdered materials from silos, rigid bins and hoppers.
The Former SRT-2600 Servo Rapid Throughput electric forming machine includes a 1,200-lb. hopper, frames with tubular welding and a sequestered vacuum box.
The B&R X20DS438A master module with IP20 protection and the X67DS438A master module with IP67 protection for use outside the control cabinet employ IO-Link 1.1 to communicate digitally with 4 intelligent field devices.
Engineered to monitor energy flows for saturated and superheated steam or hot water, the KROHNE OPTISWIRL 4200 vortex flow meter measures conducting and non-conducting liquids, gases and steam.
The Texwrap T818 shrink tunnel includes a high-velocity blower, variable speed conveyor, top/bottom/overall air volume and digital temperature controls.
Meeting the ASTM D746 low temperature brittle point of -40°C, the AFC LIQUID-TUFF non-UL liquid-tight flexible metal conduit features a hot-dipped, zinc-galvanized low carbon steel core and thermoplastic rubber jacket.
Designed to provide a secondary means of power shutdown for food and beverage industry applications, the Eaton nonmetallic motor control disconnect switch is constructed with NEMA 4X thermoplastic materials to withstand corrosive and industrial environments.
Schenck central vacuum systems can be tailored to the particular needs of a variety of plants and processes and designed for multiple users in large, multi-story plants or portable, single-user systems.
The Hinds-Bock dry ingredient depositor is designed for dry, free-flowing products such as sugar, sprinkles, chocolate chips, oat flakes, sliced nuts, dry low-fat streusel and flour.
Used for the high-level detection of powders and bulk solids, the BinMaster BM-TSM mercury-free tilt switch is mounted on the top of the bin; it activates an alarm when the material rises and tilts the switching mechanism 15°.
The Material Transfer lift and dump drum dumper accepts a drum of non-free-flowing material and discharges the contents into a hopper at approximately 140 in. above floor level.
Able to measure the water content of samples to a standard regardless of ambient conditions, the Decagon TrueDry CV-9 moisture meter dries samples by passing heated, desiccated air over each of them until achieving a uniform value of 1% relative humidity.
The Dorner 3200 Series Precision Move conveyor platform for low-profile belt conveyors includes a timing belt, integrated servo motor and drive, controls and mounting for the gear motor.
Combining ANSI Cut level 5 protection and a crinkle latex palm coating, the Magid CutMaster Aramax XT AX510 cut-resistant work glove can be used to handle sharp-edged materials.
Utilizing infrared reflected digital output technology, Clark stainless steel turbine flow meters/flow sensors provide monitoring and totalizing for liquids in pressures up to 363 psi.
Offering changeover from 7 different units of pressure, the PISCO 31 Series digital pressure switch/sensor virtually eliminates the need for conversion; the display can be set to and changed from psi, in. Hg, kPa, MPA, kgf/cm2, bar and mmHg.
The Cortec S-10FA filming amine formula provides corrosion control in boiler condensate systems; a thin protective field is formed on the metal when the formula is volatilized in the steam stream.
Built to ASME specifications, Lee stainless steel agitated tanks, blenders and hemispherical-bottom kettles can be modified or custom built for specific applications.
Used for the high-speed sealing of lightweight cases down to 3 in. in height, the A-B-C small case sealer has a pacer belt case transfer that automatically spaces cases whether they are fed apart or back to back; the side belt transfer controls the cases as they are conveyed.
The Fairbanks LabelBank/DataBank rapid barcode labeling system combines user-friendly, factory-installed software with a networkable touchscreen instrument and high-speed industrial thermal barcode printer.
Designed to move air in HVAC applications, the Mitsubishi F800 Series low-voltage variable frequency drive can be used with air handlers, cooling towers and pumps; it also controls and supports a range of motor types, including AC induction and permanent magnet motors.
The OYSTAR USA Hassia P300 form/fill/seal machine manufactures and fills small to medium-sized cups; it produces up to 63,000 portion cups/hr. and comes with an integrated case packing system.
Designed for the par-fried process of lightly breaded food products, the Cambridge SLATrak Teflon-slatted, non-stick surface conveyor belt is intended for chicken fingers and nuggets, panko and tempura-battered seafood, onion rings and other vegetables.
Built to collect dust, debris and liquid in general cleaning applications, the Nilfisk Eliminator Pro II wet/dry vacuum cleaner delivers 130 cfm of airflow and suction using 8.5A of energy.
Engineered for entrées and frozen meal processing, Hinds-Bock servo motor-driven pump fillers come with a control system that allows them to be linked via Ethernet to a plant’s control system.
Designed for full vacuum operation up to 29.5 in. Hg, the Ross 150-gal. multi-shaft mixer is rated for 3 psi internal pressure for inert gas blanketing and for accelerating product discharge through an automated 3-in. flush tank ball valve.