Food and Beverage Manufacturing Top Stories
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Cybersecurity

DHS, FBI issue warning about SamSam ransomware

Attackers are targeting large companies

Wayne Labs, Senior Contributing Technical Editor

December 5, 2018

The Department of Homeland Security National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) and the FBI have issued an activity alert to inform all computer network system operators about SamSam ransomware—aka MSIL/Samas.A. This malware has been in circulation for some time and continues to inflict damage to systems.

Sustainability

Hydroponic produce offers sustainable solution

Green Life Farms announces 100,000-sq.-ft. hydroponic greenhouse Florida

Wayne Labs

November 30, 2018

Green Life Farms has announced a partnership with Hydronov to design and build a sustainable hydroponic greenhouse in Boynton Beach, Fla.

Automation

Processors turn to robots for production jobs

No matter what shape or weight, any food product can be handled deftly by a robot

Wayne Labs

November 29, 2018

When you think of robots in the food industry, you probably think of heavy-lifting jobs, such as palletizing. However, this article looks at four exacting applications for robots on the production floor—including primary packaging.

Industry News

Maple Leaf Foods announces $660 million poultry facility

Hixson, WalterFedy to collaborate on engineering and architecture services

Casey Laughman

November 28, 2018

Maple Leaf Foods has announced it will build a $660 million fresh poultry facility in London, Ontario, Canada.

Industry News

FPSA expands Board of Directors and Executive Committee

Organization adds three new members

Casey Laughman

November 28, 2018

The Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA) has announced three new members of its Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

Engineering R&D

Streamlining motor-drive analysis

Fluke’s motor drive analyzer helps new techs learn to use the instrument, saves experienced specialists setup time

Wayne Labs

November 28, 2018

With all the variable frequency motor drives in a modern food or beverage plant, knowing the level and quality of voltages and currents they’re sending to a motor could help a maintenance tech save the life of a motor.

Industry News

Fisher Construction Group wins 2018 Built by the Best Award

Built for NewCold in Tacoma, Washington, the cold storage facility is the second low-oxygen, high-bay facility in the US

Wayne Labs

November 26, 2018

The Controlled Environment Building Association (CEBA) has named Fisher Construction Group the winner of CEBA’s “Built by the Best” Award for its cold storage facility constructed for NewCold in Tacoma, WA. The project is NewCold’s first facility in the US, and it is reportedly the second high-bay, low-oxygen freezer in the country.

Automation

Advances in Vision Inspection Systems

Artificial intelligence is already being integrated into some machine vision inspection systems, but you can expect it take off soon

Wayne Labs

November 23, 2018

If you own a modern DSLR or video camera, you’ve already benefitted from vast improvements in lens technology, sensors and the software/firmware that runs your camera.

Food Safety

How Preventive Controls Affect FDA Inspections

Understanding preventive controls is critical to FSMA compliance

Richard F. Stier

November 21, 2018

The enactment of the Preventive Controls for Human Food regulation has profoundly affected the food processing industry in the United States and throughout the world.

Sustainability

Bush Brothers wins Design-Build Institute of America National Merit Award

Company’s rural Tennessee process water reclamation facility handles 2.1 million gallons per day

Wayne Labs

November 19, 2018

Bush Brothers and Company’s new $55 million Process Water Reclamation Facility (PWRF) has won a Design-Build Institute of America National Merit Award.

On Demand Kelley Rodriguez, Editor in Chief of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods, will be joined in this 60-minute webinar by industry experts to help unpack the latest research.

On Demand Driven by climate goals, business risk, client interest, and resilience considerations, food and beverage companies are increasingly turning their attention to decarbonizing their production processes.