Case Studies & Field Reports
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Field Reports

Brewery minimizes downtime with controls update

Two obsolete PLCs were replaced by a modern controller while the original I/O was kept, thanks to a new control network gateway.

October 7, 2014

Whether it’s football in the US or rugby in Great Britain, the two sports have one thing in common: Many of their spectators like beer.

Field Reports

Taking the squeeze out of raw ingredient storage and flow

Consolidating rack systems increases storage capacity by 42 percent and frees up space, allowing the addition of 24 percent more inventory items.

September 4, 2014

General Mills’ Cedar Rapids, IA plant had successfully used pallet flow and pushback rack systems, but ongoing growth, product changes and long usage time created the need for a storage system that would safely add capacity to its existing facility.

Field Reports

Conveyor belting should be seen and not heard

When belting runs quietly, there’s little wear, and that means long life and very little downtime.

September 4, 2014

Table Talk Pies, located in Worcester, MA since 1938, makes those four-in. round pies that, if you live in the Northeast, you’ve probably have had the opportunity to try.

Field Reports

Food safety and quality keep processor ahead of its competition

New processing/forming equipment is not only built for performance, it has food safety designed into every unit.

September 4, 2014

A family-owned business, JTM Food Group started more than 40 years ago in the retail meat industry and prides itself on working closely with customers to develop ideas for custom food products sold to schools, restaurants, healthcare groups, convenience stores and retail grocery stores.

Field Reports

Redesigned filter solves winery production lag

The old filter clogged easily, requiring frequent cleaning and producing a lot of downtime.

July 7, 2014

Royal Wine Corporation is a leader in the kosher wine and beverage industry.

Field Reports

Treat root causes instead of symptoms to improve OEE

Chocolate bar line significantly improves performance by implementing partner approach to continuous improvement plan.

July 7, 2014

Mondelez Ireland is a market-leading producer of chocolate, biscuits (cookies), gum, candy, coffee and powdered beverages.

Field Reports

Perfect frozen pizzas: It’s a wrap

Palermo’s new high-speed shrink wrapping line can side-seal 150 frozen pizzas per minute compared to the old sealing machine’s rate of 90 pizzas per minute.

May 6, 2014

Based in Milwaukee, WI, Palermo’s Pizza was started by Sicilian immigrants Gaspare and Zina Fallucca who opened an Italian bakery on Milwaukee’s east side in 1964.

Field Reports

DIY: Automating a donut line

Mel-O-Cream Donuts designed a simple yet robust automated packaging and labeling line to replace a manual system.

May 6, 2014

Founded in 1932 as a retail shop in Springfield, IL, Mel-O-Cream International manufactures bakery products, primarily for wholesale distribution to supermarkets and bakeries.

Field Reports

Clean compressed air system is green, too

The last thing a processor needs is oil-contaminated food. Oil-free air compressors fill the bill while conserving energy.

May 6, 2014

Kolak Snack Foods Ltd. is a leading UK manufacturer of crisps (potato chips) and snacks. Its brands include Kolak Diamond Crisps and Snacks and Dylans Hand Cooked Crisps.

Field reports

Microbrewery puts a new face on its flooring

April 8, 2014

Equipment and chemicals are tough on bare cement, but a layer of polyurethane gives the floor a new life.

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