Food and Beverage Manufacturing Top Stories

Food Safety

More than clean: PSSI bolsters how its sanitation protects food

Company consults on safety, adds a disinfectant step and documents how its work helps

February 27, 2019

PSSI, which sends in its teams to clean and sanitize many top food facilities, has made changes to reinforce how it helps protect the food supply.

Pet Food

Consumer demand drives rapid growth in pet food market

Pet food processing and packaging industry continues to grow

Sharon Spielman

February 27, 2019

As pet ownership increases, companies involved with pet food processing and packaging can reap the benefits if they keep an eye on the pets' owners and the trends that are driving the pet food industry.

Engineering R&D

New automation controller connects with sensors, actuators, PLCs, networks

Wayne Labs

February 20, 2019

Enter EPIC—a controller capable of handling analog and discrete I/O with direct connection to sensors and actuators, running real-time tasks on board and connecting safely to cloud-based and on-premises applications.

Packaging

Research potassium levels and other labeling tips from IPPE

Workshop sponsored by North American Meat Institute updated producers on nutrition claims, the “healthy” label and bioengineered logos

Rose Shilling

February 18, 2019

Meat processors who brushed up on the latest labeling guidelines at the International Production & Processing Expo learned details about when bioengineered logos might be needed and how FDA’s nutritional panel updates might trickle over to their products.

Industry News

Beckhoff Automation LLC names new president of U.S. operations

Kevin Barker takes over the position formerly held for four years by Aurelio Banda

Wayne Labs

February 18, 2019

Beckhoff Automation LLC appointed Kevin Barker as its new president to manage Beckhoff business operations in the U.S. He assumes the role previously held by Aurelio Banda for four years. Banda led Beckhoff Automation revenue growth and business developments to new heights, finishing fiscal year 2018 with nearly $80 million in U.S. sales, new field offices and more employees.

Lyco Easy-Flow continuous-process cooler

Field Reports

Moving from batch to continuous processing improves quality, reduces cleanup

February 18, 2019

Between 2010 and 2012, Mixum rebuilt its production facilities from the ground up into a model food processing plant. It also installed state-of-the-art food processing equipment, including a line of continuous-process blanching and cooling equipment for pasta.

Field Reports

Processor-offered portion control adds value

February 18, 2019

The market is expanding for meat and cheese processors that offer pre-sliced, portion-controlled product, interleaved or wrapped with wax paper or plastic film.

steam generator installed at Setton Pistachio

Dry Processing Technology

Steam quality, blowdown problems solved with new generator boiler system

Sharon Spielman

February 15, 2019

Pistachio grower and producer Setton Farms wanted to expand one of its processing plants while maintaining its efficiency/quality balance.

Editor's Note

Re-energize your career in the sunshine at the FA&M Conference in Miami

Be part of the conversation about where the industry is headed with Tyson, Kellogg's, Golden State Foods and others

Casey Laughman

February 14, 2019

The four-day conference in Miami will be a great opportunity for food and beverage processors who want to learn more about where the industry's going and how we'll get there.