Case Studies & Field Reports

Field Reports

Updated line alleviates processor’s growing pains

A new weigh-blending system and multi-spectrum metal detector increase meal kit productivity and reduce giveaways.

Wayne Labs, Senior Contributing Technical Editor

January 10, 2014

The humble shrimp has been the mainstay of the Choice Canning Company for more than 50 years. Already a leading supplier of shrimp in North America, the processor expanded into the ready-to-cook meal market in 2006. It now produces 12 IQF skillet meals under the Tastee Choice brand and distributes them to retail grocery stores throughout the Eastern, Midwestern and Southwestern states and Canada.

Field Reports

From clipboards to CMMS, maintenance is now a snap

Fish producer uses computerized maintenance management to handle production equipment, farm equipment and operator certifications.

Wayne Labs

January 10, 2014

Snow Island is a Nova Scotia-based salmon producer distinguished by its commitment to the environment and sustainable farming practices for raising salmon from egg to plate. The company gives its salmon extra room to grow, maintaining a 98.5 percent volume of water to 1.5 percent of fish in its pens and nets. And while many other operations house one million-plus fish per farm, Snow Island farms contain only 500,000.

Field Reports

Dock doors get some needed attention

Updated shipping and receiving doors prevent ongoing impact damage from forklifts and pallets.

Wayne Labs

January 10, 2014

Shipping and receiving doors at this ice cream maker needed specialized treatment to prevent ongoing impact damage from forklifts and pallets.

Field Reports

Loud sonic horn shatters boiler ash buildup at brewery

Not a high-fidelity horn, this air-operated device packs a 150 dB wallop of acoustic energy at an Alaskan brewery.

Wayne Labs

January 10, 2014

Alaskan Brewing Company is the first brewery opened in Juneau since Prohibition, and from its beginning in 1986, sought to make high-quality, craft-brewed beer that was cost efficient and environmentally responsible.

Field Reports

Steam boilers save time and money for ingredient processor

The equipment provides the exact pressure and temperature to run processing equipment while meeting NOx emission standards.

Wayne Labs

January 10, 2014

RFI Ingredients, a provider of custom extracts and nutritional supplements, touts its slogan “From Field to Formula.” RFI’s commitment to its slogan is seen in its sourcing of raw materials from its own sustainable farms and a global network of growers and other providers.

Field Reports

X-Ray systems see through yogurt containers…and cases

Metal detection systems can’t see through foil lids, nor can they detect stones, pits, and other non-metallic foreign objects.

Wayne Labs

November 8, 2013

X-ray systems detect foreign objects by measuring the density of product and detecting differences or irregularities.

Field Reports

Pasta and potatoes, presto!

New rotary continuous cooking and cooling system processes more than 3,000 lbs. of pasta and potatoes per hour.

Wayne Labs

November 8, 2013

Wedges and slices presented challenges for traditional cooking and cooling methods.

Field Reports

Inspecting one jar at a time

The all-seeing X-ray eye can do it faster and better than the human eye, fulfilling this processor’s motto, “Filled and Inspected One Jar at a Time.”

Wayne Labs

October 11, 2013

The company uses the highest-quality production equipment and maintains vigilance in seeing that each jar of salsa meets the demanding standards of every other jar.

Field Reports