November 2013 | Food Engineering

In the November 2013 issue of Food Engineering read about the Sustainable Plant of Year, Plumrose USA. Also, learn about best practices for setting up and implementing automation systems and HACCP form generation.

Sustainable Plant of the Year

Plumrose Council Bluffs: Lean, mean and fully automated

Automating an entire raw meat cooking and packaging plant saves water, cuts energy usage and gets the product perfect the first time—without rework.

Wayne Labs

November 8, 2013

The facility was not only constructed with sustainability in mind, but sustainability can be found everywhere you look.

Food Safety

HACCP software: Get with the program!

From HACCP forms generation to automated track-and-trace systems, affordable software tools make FSMA compliance easier for small and medium-sized processors, and can reduce the potential of recalls.

Wayne Labs

November 8, 2013

Most operations can’t afford to be without HACCP software.

Maintenance Technology

Proactive maintenance management

Processors move from calendar-based checks and reports to condition monitoring of assets in real time.

Mikell Knights

November 8, 2013

Predictive and preventive maintenance tools help to reduce unplanned downtimes of critical equipment.

Best Practices

Automation tales from the trenches

Best practices in setting up and implementing automation systems go a long way to making a processor more successful than its peers.

Wayne Labs

November 8, 2013

Technologies must be properly applied after careful planning to ascertain where and what to automate.

Editorial Note

Good news for the food and beverage industry

Staying on top of food trends can help manufacturers be ready for what’s next.

Joyce Fassl

November 8, 2013

The 2013 trends list includes Korean flavors, tortas and tiny desserts.

Food Safety

The case for understanding your products

It’s imperative processors fully understand their products from a microbiological viewpoint.

Richard F. Stier

November 8, 2013

The consequences of not doing so can be severe.

Plant Openings and Expansions: November 2013

November 8, 2013

Announcements about new food and beverage plant construction projects, plant renovations and plant expansions

Industry & People News: November 2013

November 8, 2013

Announcements about new hires, staff promotions, association news, awards, mergers and acquisitions

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

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.

Packaging

Lidding extends shelf life of premium chilled goods

The polyester-based film laminate achieves performance requirements and seal security while extending product shelf life to 28 days.

Mikell Knights

November 8, 2013

The lidding material can withstand rigorous retort manufacturing processes while maintaining reliable seal integrity and peelability.

Packaging

Package update raises bagel maker’s efficiencies

Einstein Noah restaurant group needed a new, sustainable box that would make loading more efficient.

Mikell Knights

November 8, 2013

The new packages will save money, boost efficiency, lower the restaurant group’s carbon footprint and showcase its bagels and cream cheese.

Packaging

Packaging’s first foldable bottle

The award-winning design combines the features of a carton pack with the features of a bottle and performs as an aseptic package.

Mikell Knights

November 8, 2013

The product won two European packaging awards this year.

Manufacturing News

Energy savings and innovation key drivers at IBIE 2013

Key drivers in both equipment and software design included compliance with food safety regulations, energy savings and innovation.

Wayne Labs

November 8, 2013

The show offered opportunities to learn how to improve the craft of baking at every level.

Technology Sourcebook

Hydropneumatic vessel

November 8, 2013

Made of ASTM A516 Grade 70 carbon steel, the Ross Engineering hydropneumatic vessel has interior surfaces that are blasted and lined for potable water storage.

Technology Sourcebook

Helical-bevel gear drives

November 8, 2013

Available with output torque up to 7.7 lb.in. (870 Nm) and input power to 10hp (7.5kW), Boston Gear SS2000R right-angle, helical-bevel gear drives meet the demands of washdown applications.

Technology Sourcebook

Cooker-cooler

November 8, 2013

Designed to cook, cool and blend food products all in the same vessel, the Chester-Jensen Model 70N cooker-cooler offers a heat exchange surface/volume ratio for thorough product cooking and cooling.

Technology Sourcebook

Insertion/thermal flow meter

November 8, 2013

Using constant temperature sensing for low-flow accuracy, the combination Spirax Sarco MTI10 insertion and MTL10 inline mass thermal flow meter measures clean, dry gases and air; no additional transmitters or flow computers are required.

Technology Sourcebook

Isolated pressure seals

November 8, 2013

Ashcroft pressure seals can be configured with media isolators engineered for harsh or corrosive process liquids and gases.

Technology Sourcebook

Sanitary flow meter

November 8, 2013

3A approved for the food and beverage industry, the Burkert sanitary, full-bore Type 8056 magflowmeter comes standard with PTFE lining, 2x 316L stainless steel electrodes, a 304 stainless steel body, and analog and digital pulse outputs.

Technology Sourcebook

FDA-approved epoxy

November 8, 2013

Meeting FDA Section 175.105 for indirect food applications, Master Bond EP21NDFG 2-component, room temperature-curing epoxy bonds to a variety of substrates including metals, composites, glass, ceramics and many types of rubbers and plastics.

Technology Sourcebook

Turbine flow meters

November 8, 2013

Measuring low-viscosity and non-aggressive liquids, Badger Meter Vision bisphenol A-free turbine flow meters comply with the lead-free provisions of the United States Safe Drinking Water Act.

Technology Sourcebook

Bucket/tub filling system

November 8, 2013

The Hinds-Bock automatic filling and lidding system denests buckets and tubs.

Technology Sourcebook

Cross-stack tub

November 8, 2013

Made from FDA-sanctioned materials, the Akro-Mils cross-stack model 34305 tub measures 25 x 16 x 8.5 in. and has a capacity of 9.75 gal. and 1.25 cu. ft.

Technology Sourcebook

Air/gas mass flow meter

November 8, 2013

Engineered for flow measurement applications involving line sizes 12 in. or greater, the FCI Model ST102A air/gas thermal mass flow meter averages the flow rates of the 2 elements.

Technology Sourcebook

Tray loader-former

November 8, 2013

Completely servo-driven, the Polypack intermittent motion tray loader-former runs at speeds up to 20 trays/min.

Technology Sourcebook

Wet/dry vacuums

November 8, 2013

Clarke Maxxi II wet/dry vacuums come in 3 models.

Technology Sourcebook

Meat grinder

November 8, 2013

Used for fresh and frozen products, the Provisur Omni V 1107 multi-grinder features an 11-in. diameter plate and offers a capacity up to 18,000 lb./hr. for fresh and 9,000 lb./hr. for frozen final grind.

Technology Sourcebook

Modbus scanners

November 8, 2013

Precision Digital Super Snooper Modbus scanners can be set up as Modbus RTU masters, slaves or snoopers to monitor multiple Modbus devices for up to 16 process variables including level, interface level, density and temperature.

Technology Sourcebook

Power controllers

November 8, 2013

West Control Solutions PMA Relay thyristor power controllers come in a variety of sizes from 3A to 2,600A and 690VAC.

Technology Sourcebook

Packaging test system

November 8, 2013

Suitable for testing stable and flexible food packaging, the WITT Leak-Master Easy test system enables the detection of leaks without test gas or electricity.

Technology Sourcebook

Food-grade greases

November 8, 2013

Klüber ALLPLEX FMG multi-purpose, NSF H1-registered, food-grade greases are suitable for applications where incidental food contact is possible.

Technology Sourcebook

Junction box

November 8, 2013

The TURCK stainless steel process junction box consolidates up to 8 individual, localized analog or discrete signals; the signals are then routed to a control unit through a single homerun cable.

Technology Sourcebook

Disconnect terminal blocks

November 8, 2013

Simplifying current transformer testing in power monitoring applications, WAGO 2007 Series CT disconnect terminal blocks feature an intuitive 3-position disconnect lever; engaging the lever fully automatically short-circuits the transformer when using the required adjacent push-in jumper.

Technology Sourcebook

Dosimeters

November 8, 2013

Casella CEL-35X cable-free noise dosimeters measure the noises employees are exposed to over the working day to uncover dangerous areas.

Technology Sourcebook

Solid polymer bearings

November 8, 2013

GGB Bearing Technology FLASH-CLICK dual-component, double-flanged solid polymer bearings are designed for manual or automated installation without the need for pilot or assembly tools.

www.ggbearings.com

Technology Sourcebook

Wire mesh conveyor

November 8, 2013

The Walker W.O.W. sanitary wire mesh conveyor is completely tool-less; the pulleys, motors, drives, chutes, bearings and belts can be removed by hand.

Technology Sourcebook

Drive gear pumps

November 8, 2013

Clark Solutions FG Series magnetic drive gear pumps incorporate a 24VDC brushless motor drive in a rotor-less configuration and a magnetic drive for the transfer of aggressive fluids.

Technology Sourcebook

Freezer-grade rollstock

November 8, 2013

Intended for frozen baked goods and prepared foods, Clear Lam freezer-grade recycled polyethylene terephthlate rollstock tolerates processing techniques such as blast freezing.

Technology Sourcebook

Control platform

November 8, 2013

The Unitronics UniStream control platform features dual CPUs (with scan times up to 2,048 I/Os over 2MB of operand memory), a range of HMI touch panels, and local and remote I/O installation; users select their preferred HMI and snap on a CPU and preferred I/Os to create an all-in-one controller.

Technology Sourcebook

Bulk pasteurization system

November 8, 2013

The Radio Frequency Company Macrowave RF bulk pasteurization system uses a high-frequency electric field to control pathogens.

Technology Sourcebook

Tenderizer

November 8, 2013

Engineered for small to medium-sized processing plants, the Hollymatic Tender Rite tenderizer has a 3/4hp motor with the power to process up to 1,200 steaks/hr.

Technology Sourcebook

Photoelectric sensors

November 8, 2013

Built with ASIC technology, Banner S18-2 compact, self-contained, DC-operated photoelectric sensors resist fluorescent light and offer crosstalk avoidance.

Technology Sourcebook

Desiccant dehumidifiers

November 8, 2013

Munters HCD desiccant dehumidifiers dehumidify to low moisture levels, processing between 300 and 12,000 cfm of air.

Technology Sourcebook

Signal light towers

November 8, 2013

IP69K rated to withstand high-pressure and high-temperature washdown operations, Patlite LS7-9 signal light towers have no exposed screws, shafts or other metal components.

On Demand Kelley Rodriguez, Editor in Chief of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods, will be joined in this 60-minute webinar by industry experts to help unpack the latest research.

On Demand Driven by climate goals, business risk, client interest, and resilience considerations, food and beverage companies are increasingly turning their attention to decarbonizing their production processes.