2014 turned out to be a great year for the food and beverage industry. While changing consumer and customer demands remain challenging, the industry has benefitted from advances in automation technology and food safety measures, both of which we are covering in this issue.

I wanted to let you know about some of the other important topics we will be covering this year, not only on the pages of Food Engineering, but at the 2015 Food Automation & Manufacturing Conference scheduled for April 12-15 at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater Beach, FL.

At the 2015 event, key innovation and operational excellence topics will be addressed by food and beverage industry experts from Kellogg, Cargill, Beam Suntory, General Mills, ConAgra and other industry leaders. Additional compelling topics on this year’s agenda include sanitary equipment design and sanitation of equipment, cybersecurity risk assessment, food safety and quality automation, and creating consistent standards of excellence across plant locations.

For the first time, the Food Automation & Manufacturing Conference will be honoring Sustainability Excellence in Manufacturing Award winners in a special, extended session. Working in partnership with PMMI’s Alliance for Innovation & Operational Excellence, Food Engineering will open the conference stage to the top processor award winners in categories such as pollution prevention, enhanced environmental protection and stewardship as well as compliance assurance projects. 

This is just a synopsis of the activities planned for the 2015 Food Automation & Manufacturing Conference. For the latest information on speakers and sessions, and to learn more about all the benefits this conference has to offer, please see the insert in this issue between pages 32 and 33 or visit www.foodautomationconference.com. 

I cordially invite all Food Engineering readers to join us April 12-15 in Clearwater Beach, FL for the food and beverage manufacturing industry’s truly unique educational and networking event.