Food Engineering

Chobani time might be defined as the time it takes a new company, which started in 2005, to rise to the top in US Greek yogurt sales in 2012, claiming 47.3 percent of the US market, according to AdAge, June 6, 2012.

On January 4, 2013, two years after the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law, FDA issued its proposed Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls (HARPC) regulations.

Increase efficiency. Improve product handling characteristics. Meter ingredients or cleaning chemicals more accurately. Cut maintenance time and downtime. Decrease energy usage.

Metal detection is a fact of life in the food processing industry. Most processors, whether they process snacks, meats, grains or liquids, have either metal detectors or X-ray machines to detect and control metal contamination.

Bühler was investigating how to improve the conditioning of pasta through enhanced dryer control.

About a year ago, the food industry was embroiled in the lean, finely textured beef media frenzy.

“Terabytes of data are spinning on our servers,” Dex Dutson, process control manager with ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston told attendees at ARC Advisory Group’s World Industry Forum held in Orlando in February.

Dutch Gold Honey has grown into the largest family-owned honey company in the US. Located in Lancaster, PA, its products include 11 honey varietals, an organic honey and three varieties of maple syrup.

Enfield Farms, a Lynden, WA-based family-owned and operated business for more than 30 years, produces high-quality blueberries and raspberries, maintaining complete control over every aspect of its berry products.

RM Foods has grown from a supplier to restaurants, El Torito and Acapulco, to a much larger customer base that now includes retailers and bigbox stores such as Trader Joe’s, Costco, Sam’s Club and Whole Foods.

Sugar producers and confectioners are engaged in a heated lobbying battle over US sugar policy, with producers pointing to a pair of USDA reports as evidence of needed support.

Frozen food manufacturers are encountering a shortage of broccoli and are looking to the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) to increase the supply.

A report to the Food and Drug Administration may help regulators resolve foodborne illness outbreaks earlier and enable the food industry to respond to them more quickly.

Ken Barina was named president of Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America, Inc.

Global Food Group will locate a new manufacturing facility in Clinton, AR. The $4.7 million facility will produce retail sandwiches, quesadillas, tortillas and burritos.

A new flavor, coconut chocolate dipped mixed nuts, helped inspire thinkThin, Los Angeles, CA, to transition from opaque to clear film packaging so consumers could see the natural ingredients in its Crunch bars.

A functional beverage deserves an equally functional package like the Tetra Brik Aseptic Edge carton SunOpta Inc. chose for the launch of its Sunrich Naturals brand SoL Sunflower Beverage.

A microwaveable, susceptor-equipped bacon package for Embotits Espina, a 102-year-old maker of cold cuts headquartered in Vic, Spain, earned the Product of the Year Award.

Grain Millers, based in Eugene, OR has been packaging conventional organic whole grain products for more than 30 years.

Engineered to remove medium and fine ferrous contaminants from dry, free-flowing products under gravity flow, Puritan manual-clean drawer magnets have multiple staggered rows of magnetic tubes for a larger product flow contact area.

Designed for fully automated handling and processing of highly abrasive, non free-flowing metal flake material, the NBE self-contained bulk material conveying system has material supply hoppers with live-bottom, variable frequency drive, discharge-metering conveyors that transfer material to inclined, cleated belt conveyors.

Providing homogenous mixing in vessels, the Powder Technologies Ystral Jetstream mixer features a rotor that creates a vertical stream in a stator directed toward the bottom of the tank or vessel.

The SWECO sanitary bag dump with integral dust collector provides vacuum below the bag-dump screen rather than above, pulling dust down and away from the operator.

Able to resist pressure shocks exceeding 60 kPa (8psi), the PPS BFM flexible sleeve assembly snaps in place to connect lines and can be used where flexible sleeves are required to enhance explosion protection.

Constructed of thick-wall, 6- x 4-in. carbon steel structural tubing and heavy-gauge carbon steel plate, the NBE 5-station, bulk bag unloader system meets or exceeds ANSI and ASME specifications.

ATEX approved, the Volkmann INEX vacuum conveying system provides the vacuum transfer of dry or wet powder and granules into potentially hazardous conditions.

The Hapman screw-style U-Trough feeder measures ingredients and delivers materials to a process.

Able to fill various sizes of drums, the Material Transfer stainless steel Material Master drum filler system includes an integrated scale.

Removing oversize and undersize particles from on-size powder and bulk food and dairy products, the Kason sanitary, clean-in-place Vibroscreen double-deck screener features 2 horizontally mounted screens in a cylindrical housing supported on a circular base by springs.

Featuring 2 gear-driven, counter-rotating finger shafts and replaceable side combs, the Hapman LumpMaster lump breaker reduces lumps and agglomerations in sugars and other ingredients that can compact and impede product flow.

Witte vibrating screeners are available with wire mesh or perforated screens in standard widths of 10, 23, 35 and 47 in. as well as custom sizes.

With a totally enclosed weight guard to prevent “reach-in” injuries, the SWECO MX round separator complies with European CE and ATEX standards.

Designed for milling cacao, the MPE Cold Milling Gran-U-Lizer grinder maintains the purity of the product, including its antioxidants and essential minerals, by utilizing water-cooled rollers to eliminate the generation of heat.

Engineered to remove ferrous contaminants from dry products, the PPS dual inline, rare earth magnet plate features a tapered-step design that provides optimal contact with product as it travels through the unit.

Intended for dumping bulk foods from boxes weighing up to 2,500 lbs., the Flexicon TIP-TITE sanitary box dumper has a container platform that is raised by dual hydraulic cylinders to create a dust-tight seal between the top edge of a box and the underside of a discharge hood.

The Sodimate silo unloader has a vertical spindle fitted with flexible blades for the mechanical discharge of dry powdered materials from silos, rigid bins and hoppers.

The Kason ultra-low-profile, 40-in. diameter Flo-Thru Vibroscreen sifter has a flat dust cover that fits tight spots between storage and process equipment.

Dynamic Conveyor DynaClean food processing conveyors have a leg support with a 1-dimensional design and a minimal number of welds to eliminate the possibility of hidden bacteria buildup.

Ross double planetary mixers come with an agitator blade with 2 identical rectangular stirrers with upward rake fingers.

Eriez Model 1200 Series metal detectors detect ferrous and nonferrous tramp metal in food products.

Compensating for product effects without reducing detection sensitivity, CEIA MS21 metal detectors simultaneously use a broad spectrum of inspection frequencies to achieve sensitivity to all metal contaminants.

Dow Corning XIAMETER ACP-1500 silicone antifoams destabilize and collapse bubbles in foam to eliminate spillovers in food and beverage processing applications.

The Anritsu Dual Wave series metal detector detects both ferrous and nonferrous metals.

Used in food manufacturing, processing and packaging facilities, LPS DETEX NSF H1-registered lubricants are suitable for applications where incidental food contact may occur.

Featuring a full-color touch screen, membrane key panel and product inspection data collection capability, the Mettler-Toledo Safeline Signature metal detector can be combined with a range of standard or custom conveyor systems.

Designed to reduce the threat of product contamination for food processors, Rochling metal and X-ray detectable plastics are FDA and USDA approved for food contact.

The Thomas & Betts Ty-Rap line of detectable cable ties includes mounting bases made from materials identifiable by X-ray equipment, metal detectors and visual detection equipment.

Designed for transporting beer brewing products, the MPE Chain-Vey tubular drag conveyor is used for transportation for all phases of the production process from raw ingredients to completed packaging.

An alternative to socket-head screws, the EDT KleanCap bearing locking device locks insert bearings onto shafts.

Designed for 1-D oriented barcode reading, the Cognex DataMan 50L compact laser barcode reader has an IP65-rated housing.

Engineered for less sensitive fluid milk, beverage or water applications, Alfa Laval BaseLine plate heat exchangers provide a combination of temperature and holding time for accurate heating and cooling.

The Habasit gray acetal HabaCHAIN vent top case chain for the poultry, seafood and raw fish industries reduces the risk of pinch points and allows water drainage during the sanitation process.

Inter Ice-Pump continuous ice cream freezer pumps are direct replacements for HOYER pumps.

Capable of detecting metal, glass, dense plastics and other contaminants in packaged food, the Thermo Scientific Xpert C400 X-ray system can be used for thicker, denser products; wet, semi-frozen products; metalized packaging structures; and/or higher-speed production.

Clarion food machinery A/W oil 32, food machinery A/W oil 68 and gear oil 220 provide rust and corrosion protection and hydrolytic stability.

Featuring 4-quadrant technology, Cassel metal detectors find metals in “difficult” products such as cheese or high-salt content foods.

Capable of working on a processing line or as a standalone unit, the Cantrell CWCS-8400 wing segmenter processes up to 170 wings/min.

Graybill baked dessert confectionery snack cake lines slice, separate, inject, ice and assemble “finished” snack cakes ready for further cooling or specialized packaging at a rate of up to 1,000/min.

Available in ISO viscosity grades 150 through 460, Bel-Ray synthetic hydrocarbon and ester combination oil can be used in enclosed gear boxes on a range of equipment including grinding mills, kilns and driers, aerators, pumps, mixers, agitators and hoists.

Providing levels of attenuation up to 120 db, Interstate Specialty EMI/RFI gaskets and seals are manufactured to OEM specifications, including factors such as impact, solvent and UV resistance; heat; and flexibility.

Designed for tray line and horizontal vacuum former applications, the Hinds-Bock 6-piston 4-oz. 6P-04 filler has a servo motor that moves the entire filler for spreading product; it also can shift the unit for filling into multiple targets.

The IMI Rare Earth RotoDrawer rotary-style, magnetic drawer-in-housing separator removes ferrous metal from powder and bulk processed products with difficult flow characteristics or a higher moisture content or particle size.

Built with ear cushion foam technology and ear cups that tilt for greater comfort, 3M Peltor X Series earmuffs provide noise protection up to 31 decibels.

The Fluke 9190A Ultra-Cool field metrology well dry-block calibrator provides on-location validation and calibration of RTDs, thermocouples, thermometers and other temperature sensors.

Klüberfood NH1 CH 2 Plus synthetic high-temperature chain oils incorporate base oils for low evaporation losses and high oxidation.

Safeguarding sensitive processes, the Hach BioTector B3500c TOC analyzer meets the requirements of clean water applications including condensate return, cooling water, potable water and demineralized water.

The Precision Digital PD6830 ProtEx-RTP pulse input flow rate meter/totalizer has an explosion-proof, NEMA 4X enclosure for the display of local or remote flow information in hazardous areas or harsh, safe area applications.

Automatically indexing random size cases from a powered infeed conveyor, the S&R SR4000T case sealer automatically folds all top flaps and applies up to 3-in. wide pressure-sensitive tape to the top and bottom of the case.

Ritron PT Series 2-way, ergonomically designed portable radios feature narrow frequency channel steps to reduce interference.

Designed to remove the pits from dried prunes and dates, the Fadei M-292 fruit pitting machine also can be used for a variety of fruit and vegetable applications at capacities up to 2,400/min.

Offered as a kit, the Dematic FlexTruck easy pre-engineered automated guided vehicle system comes with a double-pallet handling vehicle, control center, navigation targets and wireless call/dispatch stations.

Siemens Simogear geared motors come in helical, parallel shaft and helical bevel gear unit types with either high-efficiency or NEMA Premium motors.

Patlite NHL Series network monitoring light towers notify the administrator of network abnormalities via LED lights, audible alarms and email notifications.

The Sensorex CS615 sterilizable conductivity sensor monitors process fluids for changes in sanitary applications.

Engineered for corrosive installations, Hayward GF-PP PMD4/PMS4 pneumatic actuators have a glass-filled polypropylene housing that provides corrosion resistance.

Tested to high-pressure hose down standards, Rig-A-Lite FPF LED luminaires are NSF certified for food equipment.

Providing an instant, permanent bond for lightweight cartons, Shurtape HP 132 cold temperature packaging tape is formulated with a synthetic rubber/resin hot melt adhesive that keeps packages sealed and secure in high-speed applications.

Used in conjunction with NuTEC hydraulic patty forming machines, the NuTEC PF-700 flattener produces patties with a home-made or smashed appearance.

Designed for a variety of applications including bakery, confectionery, dairy, frozen foods, sandwiches and other food products, the Campbell Revolution washdown horizontal flow wrapper has a cantilevered tube forming section that allows debris to fall away from internal drive components and frame supports mounted on 45° angles.

Protecting equipment and workers from errors during electrical and switchgear maintenance, the Kirk Key HD Series Type DM access interlock ensures steps cannot be skipped and a pre-determined sequence of operation is followed.

The ATMI BrightPak liquid containment system has 2 primary components: a 4.6-liter polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle and a polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) rigid, 3-dimensional, collapsible interior “liner.”

Suitable for extended service in temperature conditions as low as -78ºF, Sprayon LU 214 food-grade, low-temperature, multi-service lubricant is composed of a blend of pure synthetic oils treated with extreme-pressure, corrosion inhibiting, anti-oxidant, anti-foam and anti-wear additives.

Used in meat reclamation, separation and bone elimination operations, the Hollymatic Model 190 auto-feed grinder sits alongside a large, high-capacity finish grinder.

Protecting equipment during industrial high-pressure cleaning with very hot water, the Roxtec C RS T IP69K-approved cable entry seal is designed for installation in cabinets and enclosures.

Magid ROC GP100 work gloves feature a micro-foam nitrile palm coating that provides dexterity and tactile sensitivity, even in wet and oily conditions.

Engineered to measure the level of solid material that has settled in a tank containing liquids, the BinMaster vibrating rod vibrates in water and stops when the solid material reaches the level of the probe.

Printing 100 terminal block markers in 10.7 seconds, the WAGO thermal transfer smartPRINTER marks WMB markers, continuous marking strips, wire/cable markers, push-button plates and adhesive labels.

Cat Lift Trucks EC22N2 – EC30LN2 4,500- to 6,500-lb. capacity, electric, 4-wheel cushion tire lift trucks are equipped with 3-phase AC technology and separate drive, hydraulic and steer motors.

Used in rotary screw and reciprocating compressors, Summit RHT FG-68 NSF H1 hydrotreated ammonia compressor lubricant functions under the requirements of closed-loop DX ammonia refrigeration systems.

The Hardy model HI 6300 standalone weight processor reads, conditions and digitizes load cell sensor and strain gauge signals found in process weighing applications such as inventory management, batch, blending, filling, dispensing and check weighing.

The APS ENERGYGUARD retrofit kit provides a perimeter seal along the sides and rear hinge of a dock leveler.

Flexible collision avoidance solutions that can provide front, rear or 270° monitoring in AGV applications, OMRON STI OS32C-DM safety laser scanners report status and measurement data via EtherNet/IP.

The West Control Solutions CAL9500P programmable controller for temperature and process control applications enables data logging, process data archiving, chart recording, virtual instrument display and on-screen alarms to monitor and control equipment from any computer connected to a process network.

The Moyno 2000 Model G2 progressing cavity pump features an open throat hopper design with an auger for positive product feed when handling semi-dry or high solids content sludges.

Pepperl+Fuchs NBB flush-mount inductive sensors deliver sensing ranges to 1.5mm and a switching frequency up to 10 KHz in temperatures ranging from -13°F to 185°F.