Wayne Labs

Wayne Labs has more than 30 years of editorial experience in industrial automation. He served as senior technical editor for I&CS/Control Solutions magazine for 18 years where he covered software, control system hardware and sensors/transmitters. Labs ran his own consulting business and contributed feature articles to Electronic Design, Control, Control Design, Industrial Networking and Food Engineering magazines. Before joining Food Engineering, he served as a senior technical editor for Omega Engineering Inc. Labs also worked in wireless systems and served as a field engineer for GE’s Mobile Communications Division and as a systems engineer for Bucks County Emergency Services. In addition to writing technical feature articles, Wayne covers FE’s Engineering R&D section.

Senior Contributing Technical Editor

Cybersecurity

DHS, FBI issue warning about SamSam ransomware

Attackers are targeting large companies

Wayne Labs

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.

Industry News

Diversey appoints Mark Burgess CEO

Burgess was previously CEO of Signode Industrial Group

Wayne Labs

November 29, 2018

Diversey, a global supplier in the hygiene and cleaning industry, has announced the appointment of Mark S. Burgess as its new chief executive officer, effective Dec. 17.

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

Bühler North America names Andy Sharpe new president and CEO

Sharpe succeeds René Steiner, who is retiring after 50 years of service

Wayne Labs

November 28, 2018

Bühler Inc, a global supplier in process engineering and technology for food, feed and advanced industrial materials, has announced the appointment of Andy Sharpe as its new President and CEO. Sharpe, who succeeds René Steiner, will take over on the first of January.

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.

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.

Sustainable Plant of the Year

Food Engineering's 2018 Sustainable Plant of the Year: How Dairy Farmers of America goes green

DFA's Garden City milk dryer operation is a tightly knit system of controls and machinery that eke out energy savings and make perfect product with little to no waste

Wayne Labs

November 14, 2018

Any milk dryer operation uses a lot of energy, and when you have the biggest operation in North America, you use…a lot of energy.

Explore food safety strategies that strengthen sanitation, risk management, operational efficiency, and compliance across foodservice and facility environments.

The webinar will examine how these trends are impacting every stage of the manufacturing process, from research and development through production, distribution and fulfillment.