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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

Articles

ARTICLES

Field Reports

Steam boilers keep on steaming

Long-running steam generators give a gourmet confectioner the impetus to purchase another to expand plant output.

Wayne Labs

July 3, 2013

To ensure the highest-quality products and meet the growing demand, the chocolatier needs equipment that is reliable, efficient and guarantees a consistent result.

Manufacturing News

USDA hasn’t fully implemented 2008 Farm Bill

While the new bill is making its way through Congress, USDA hasn’t fully implemented the 2008 version.

Wayne Labs

July 3, 2013

FSIS has yet to implement a new inspection program.

Field Reports

Conveying system helps quadruple output for chip maker

Production no longer has to be halted when diverting product—just one of the many examples of improved efficiency.

Wayne Labs

July 3, 2013

The most significant efficiencies have come from the installation of a new conveyor system by Walker Custom Sheet Metal.

Sugar producers concerned with Farm Bill

American Sugar Alliance sent every Capitol Hill office a personalized replica of a 1940s sugar rationing coupon.

Wayne Labs

July 2, 2013

The group warned that wholesale changes to current policies would result in renewed dependence on foreign sugar producers.

1.5 trillion calories reduced in US foods

The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation announced it has exceeded its calorie reduction goal.

Wayne Labs

July 1, 2013

The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation announced it has exceeded its calorie reduction goal.

TECH FLASH

Methods to curb energy rate increases

Many processors have already switched out inefficient lighting and invested in high-efficiency motors, and some have tried demand control while others have instituted real-time purchasing of energy.

Wayne Labs

June 26, 2013

FE interviewed Brian Flynn, chief technology officer of ZF Energy Development, to discuss the options processors have in cutting energy costs.

Plant Construction

36th Annual Plant Construction Survey

The push for ROI

Wayne Labs

June 12, 2013

FSMA, energy reductions and efficiency are changing the way plants operate, and some older sites may need more than a facelift.

High lead or heavy metal levels in spices, such as cinnamon, typically come from three potential sources

Food Safety

Minimizing risk from raw materials

The ingredients you use reflect the quality of your product, so keep close tabs on your suppliers

Wayne Labs

June 8, 2013

Food manufacturers are launching new efforts to improve ingredient quality, make use of newer technologies and generally push greater innovation into their product offerings.

Sustainability

Energy management: crunching the numbers

Reducing energy usage is an ongoing practice, requiring education and continuing efforts by everyone in the organization.

Wayne Labs

May 13, 2013

There are many paths toward reducing energy and utility usage at plants—some are obvious, but some are not and require the help of consultants and suppliers.

Food Safety

Inline monitoring aids in food safety and quality

What you don’t measure could kill your brand.

Wayne Labs

May 13, 2013

While it may be said that food safety and food quality are not necessarily interrelated, get lax about either, and you probably won’t have a brand for long.

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