Food Engineering

Throughput. It all comes down to this number.

While the power transmission industry is pretty mature, power transmission components have had to endure a lot of hardships imposed upon them by the food and beverage industry.

When it comes to cleaning food production equipment, it wasn’t that long ago the only option was taking the equipment apart piece by piece, scrubbing and flushing it with chemicals and water inside and out before putting it back together again for the next run.

US Founding Father Benjamin Franklin famously said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” which could be the motto of the pending Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

2014 turned out to be a great year for the food and beverage industry.

The inspiration for this article was a recent FDA action that shut down an Atlanta fortune cookie manufacturer due to infestation.

The US government is appealing the WTO’s rejection of the US Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) rule, but some meat packers think Washington should let the issue die.

The Optima CBF hygienic cartoner has a magazine for precut blanks, which is replaced as a unit when the format is changed.

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

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

Headquartered in Cape Town, Woolworths is one of South Africa’s leading retailers, with annual revenues of $3.6 billion.

Established in 1919, Smith Frozen Foods processes private-label frozen vegetables including peas, corn, carrots, lima beans and garbanzo beans.

Headquartered in Freyburg at the Unstrut in Saxony-Anhalt, the Rotkäppchen-Mumm Sektkellereien GmbH winery has a 50 percent market share of bottled sparkling wine in Germany.

Power interruptions and brownouts (sags) are costly, even if it’s just one per year.

Michael Foods, Inc. is a multinational producer and distributor of egg products and refrigerated potato products, as well as a distributor of cheese and other dairy-case products for the foodservice, retail and food-ingredient markets.

As flexible packaging continues to become commonplace for shoppers, food and beverage processors looking to add some pizzazz to their shelf presence now have another option: custom-shaped pouches.

Brands in the US looking to make their PET bottles stand out on retail shelves now have access to a new foamed bottle technology.

Dealing with food in on-the-go cups has always presented problems for both brand owners and consumers.

A coalition of business and agriculture groups has lined up in opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rule that would expand federal jurisdiction over American waterways.

In January 2011, the Food Safety Modernization Act came into being, and six core teams were formed to focus on six key sections: preventive standards, inspection and compliance, imports, federal/state integration, fees and reports, and studies.

An interactive 3-D platform, Motoman Neocortex machine-learning software uses sensor input to learn and react in real time.

The Dorner SmartPace conveyor merges multiple lanes without product stops or gates.

The Multi-Conveyor pneumatic 90° transfer combines 3 lanes of product into a single flow.

Protecting electrical equipment from dust, debris and chemicals, Roxtec cable entry seals provide airtight and watertight protection during high-pressure hosing; they meet IP 66/67 and UL/NEMA 4, 4x, 12 & 13 standards for use in the food manufacturing industry.

Designed to discriminate between fat and lean portions of packaged meat products in cardboard cartons, plastic crates and vacuum-packed frozen blocks, the Eagle FA3/C fat analysis machine also provides protein and moisture calculations.

The METTLER TOLEDO CI-Vision Mosaic 360° vision inspection system employs 6 cameras to inspect labels on bottles, jars, cans and tubes; it automatically verifies each label is complete and correctly applied and matches the product inside the package.

Designed for filling and sealing preformed cups with a fill volume up to 600ml and a cup height up to 150mm, the OYSTAR M-FS 30 filling and sealing machine has a chainless drive for automated format changes.

With the flexibility to seal bags with heat sealing or ultrasonic welding, the Triangle Model XYS08 form/fill/seal bagging machine packages nuts, rice, powders, small fresh-cut produce and confectionery products; it provides ultrasonic sealing on bag widths as small as 2 3/4 in.

Able to elevate or lower products in a production line, the Nercon helix spiral conveyor handles cartons, pouches, bottles and bundles.

Providing load containment and breathability, the Muller Flexi-Rope system takes standard machine film rolls and ropes the film from both sides to create a thin, strong band.

The NJM UNISORT 32 stainless steel bottle unscrambler orients and feeds round, rectangular or square plastic bottles that are 1 1/2- to 7 1/2- in. high and 3/4 to 4 in. in diameter.

Vaccon RTM interchangeable Venturi cartridges allow dirt, dust and debris to pass through a pump without clogging; they thread directly into existing multistage vacuum pumps and vacuum grippers.

Created for static lap seal or high-speed shrink packaging equipment running at speeds in excess of 100 packages/min., Clysar EZ-R polyolefin stiff shrink film is used with products such as bakery, produce and frozen foods.

The Nutec BlackBox printing system is available as a printer that can be configured with up to 12 print heads; a printer and vision inspection system equipped with a smart sensor or smart camera; a printer, vision inspection and line control system; or a printer, vision inspection, line control and track and trace system.

Offering 10-sided pallet load protection, Lachenmeier Xeros stretch hood film prevents condensation and unwanted elements from entering the inside and outside layers of a load.

Flowcrete multifunctional resin floors stand up to heavy physical impacts, constant foot and wheeled traffic, exposure to corrosive chemicals and thermal shock; they create a seamless, hygienic surface and are available with anti-slip profiles.

Capable of running at speeds over 2,300 packages/min., the Sanko ZERO 1 liquid and paste packaging machine is engineered for a variety of single-use liquid and paste products, such as food condiments and salad dressings, and liquid products that are prone to generate bubbles during the form/fill/seal process.

Haver low- and high-level, fully automated bag palletizing machines stack bags weighing 10 to 110 lb.

The Dynamic DynaClean Vertical Z conveyor for food processing facilities moves product to higher elevations; it is custom designed to desired heights and includes widths up to 24 in.

Approved for use by US and European regulators, Freudenberg Fluoroprene XP fluorinated universal material for process seals resists water-based and fatty media.

Intended for food applications with uneven connections, Venair Vena MF/MF-L conformable silicone hose can acquire a certain shape and maintain it, even in extreme operating conditions.

Accommodating up to 25 cases/min., the Schneider bottom-loading, vertical, stainless steel case packer, leaves the bottom of the product standing during the packaging process.

The Heat and Control 90-in. Micro breader applies all styles of pre-dust, crumb and flake coatings to poultry, meat, vegetables and other foods; top coverage and breading bed density are independently adjustable.

The Parsons-Eagle Phaser XP vertical form/fill/seal produces pillow, gusseted or flat-bottom packages from 2- to 13-in. wide and 3- to 15-in. long at speeds over 60 packages/min.

Craemer offers a range of reusable plastic pallets.

Incorporating a quad-core Cortex A7 CPU and PowerVR XT GPU, the Arbor Gladius 8 Android tablet features a 7.85-in. LCD display with a multi-touch projected-capacitive touchscreen and integrated WWAN, WLAN and Bluetooth connections.

A built-in intelligence information system, the Gebo Cermex EIT web-based automated data acquisition system remotely provides the necessary information to identify and analyze production issues and measure performance.

The Domino A520i continuous ink jet printer features a stainless steel exterior, 3-stage fluid management system, plenum airflow cooling system and remote user interface touch panel.

Built to measure and monitor ambient temperatures in refrigerators, freezers and warehouses, T&D RTR-500 wireless dataloggers are water resistant and oil proof; they collect data at temperatures down to -22°F.

Eliminating conventional trunnions and wheels, the Lyco Zero maintenance screen reduces blinding, water and chemicals used during cleaning processes and for industrial waste.

The Circle Packaging Flexibag Si-500 bagging machine creates 4-side sealed sachets.

The Bosch Packaging Technology V55 external coffee protection valve allows roasting gas to escape without allowing oxygen and external odors to enter the can or soft bag and prevents the bag from bloating.

Eliminating individual valve wiring and molded cable sets for manifold valve stacks, the Mead Fluid Dynamics Manifold PowerStrip consolidates wiring to a single home-run cable.

Able to reach speeds up to 350 cartons/min., the PMI HS all-servo horizontal end-load cartoner comes with continuous or intermittent motion.

Injection molded with NG Evo thermoplastic or XPG low-friction acetal, the Emerson System Plast 2257 side-flexing modular plastic conveyor belt features a universal design that allows left and right turns, as well as S-curves.

The Roberts IMP 1500 filling machine carries pouches up in an inclined bucket conveyor system to be weighed on a scale.

Providing 3-dimensional inspection of products, the Cognex DS1000 3-D displacement sensor uses laser triangulation to provide a topographical representation of each item to allow the measurement of features such as length, width, height, tilt or volume relative to any surface.

Operating at speeds up to 3,600 rpm, the ITT Bornemann SLH-4G twin-screw, positive displacement pump handles varying viscosities and clean-in-place processes.

Engineered for convenience products, Südpack SafePeel Hot film can used with multi-chamber trays.

Powered by a stainless steel air distribution system, the Wilden SHIFT Saniflo FDA sanitary air-operated double-diaphragm pump incorporates an air control spool that automatically restricts the amount of air going into the pump during the latter part of each stroke.

Odorless and tasteless, MonoSol food-friendly Vivos water-soluble films dissolve in hot or cold water or other liquids; each film is crafted for specific product usage.

The Piab piFLOWp conveyor utilizes COAX cartridges to generate vacuum.

Beckhoff CX5100 embedded PCs include multi-core processors with Intel Atom CPU 22-Nm multi-core technology.

The Simionato Logic integrated packaging system is supported by an in-feed conveyor, radial combination weigher, vertical form/fill/seal bagger and takeaway elevator.

The BW Container AdaptA multi-lane 100 accumulation system is engineered for non-round, odd-shaped containers.

The JLS Automation PIVT leak detection system utilizes vacuum, vision and other sensor technologies to detect seal contamination, leaks and pinholes; it allows a robot to identify leaky packages and reject them.

The Bossar BVH packaging machine for flexible packaging materials produces duplex side gussets on block bottom-style pouches with a top fitment.

Used to transport bulk foods on processing and packaging distribution lines, the Key sanitary belt conveyor features a positive drive urethane belt, stainless steel frame and components, and open construction.

The Optima CBF hygienic cartoner has a magazine for precut blanks, which is replaced as a unit when the format is changed.

Built for automation duty applications, the Wildeck FlexLoader automated/integrated vertical reciprocating conveyor system incorporates an overload detection system with automated horizontal loading and off-loading conveyors.

Weighing less than 10 lb., the Ingersoll Rand SideKick lever chain hoist helps producers and packers lift and move material.

Available in various sizes, Infratab Freshtime RFID EPC Gen2 tags can be used repeatedly.

The Rexroth IndraDrive Mi cabinet-free drive solution merges drive electronics and motors into an integral unit; it virtually eliminates the drive electronics in the cabinet.

Applying an extruded film of hot melt adhesive to pre-programmed locations on a label through a vertical pattern nozzle, the B & H Marathon + GES 2.0 roll-fed labeler requires no operator setup or adjustment during production.

A compact, ready-to-connect motor with integrated drive, the Siemens Sinamics S120M decentralized servo drive allows moving the motor inverter outside the control cabinet and directly onto the motor.

SLIDEWAYS plastic components for conveyors and packaging equipment include guide rails, roller chain guides and sprockets, extrusions for traditional and high-temperature applications, rollers, pulleys, bushings and levelers.

Able to close polyethylene, pillow-type and gusset bags within harsh environments, the Fischbein HAS 300 hot air sealer constantly monitors sealing pressure via load cell technology.

The Schubert TLM packaging machine is designed without an electrical cabinet; the remaining control components are water cooled.

Unlike pasteurization, Neptune ultraviolet systems kill heat-resistant molds and ascospores; they disrupt the DNA of the organisms and prevent typical cell functions such as germination, replication or assimilation of food.

With an adhesive designed for recycled corrugate cartons, 3M Scotch recycled corrugate tapes allow using just 1 strip on a box, whether sealing by hand or machine.

The Linx 7900 printer includes a remote web interface that allows monitoring and controlling the printer through a web browser, either via a PC or a web-enabled smartphone.

Mitsubishi MC Works64 PC-based supervisory control and data acquisition software provides graphical user interfaces, alarm and event management, data logging and trending.

The Rice Lake iDimension 3-D imaging system instantly captures an image of a package, flat, poly bag, tube and irregular-shaped item.

Incorporating a fluidic muscle design, the Rinco FPA 4500-S ultrasonic pouch sealing system is engineered for the flexible packaging of dry and liquid foods.

Intended for use in ink jet systems that print alphanumerics, graphics and barcodes onto porous packaging substrates for food and beverage applications, the FoxJet Marksman Matrix controller has a 10-in. touchscreen that allows the on-floor and front-office editing of printed codes.

The BEUMER fillpac bagging system can be incorporated into existing packaging lines.

Equipped with a range of packaging inspection capabilities, Microscan Visionscape I-PAK VH software controls and visualizes the inspections of up to 4 machine vision smart cameras at once.

The Triple/S Dynamics Opti-Flow vision inspection system scans the surface profile of the material as it is conveyed to collect real-time data.

Utilizing 2 wheels, the Aurizon CCB UltraLight ultrasonic sealing system forms an in-running nip that applies point contact to package heat-sensitive goods such as chocolates and confectionery products; it seals through multiple layers and contaminants.

Used to bottle distillate, liquor and spirits, MBF Monoblock and Superbloc bottling machines come in standalone versions.

Giving consumers the assurance of a secure seal, the Presto Click ’N Lock press-to-close double zipper delivers pronounced audible and tactile cues when the package is closed.

The Ross HSM-703XC inline ultra-high-shear mixer generates fine dispersions and emulsions with narrow particle size distribution.

The Cerulean optical carton crease tester uses an HD camera to measure and record the dimensions, angles and symmetry of carton crease, bead and formed boxes; it assesses the multi-layer construction of all types of printed or non-printed carton board, paperboard and waxed carton product.

Offering foreign object detection for a variety of food applications, the Thermo Fisher Scientific NextGuard X-ray system also uses customizable vision software to inspect packaged products for flaws such as missing pieces or components.

Brother subfractional AC gearmotors are intended for the packaging, food and beverage industries.

The MPE Cassel Metal Shark 2a metal detector controller scans products at speeds up to 6,600 ft./min.

The Marlen OPTI 100 vacuum pump has a capacity of up to 10,000 lb./hr.

SATO S84-ex and S86-ex print engines are intended for case carton, pallet and individual product identification, print and apply applications.

Engineered for a range of material handling and packaging applications, the ABB IRB 1200 small robot has no offset in axis 2 for a longer stroke that allows the robot to be placed close to the product flow.

NSF ISO 21469 certified and NSF H1 registered, Klüber chain lubricants comply with FDA 21 CFR 178.3570.

The tna robag FX 3ci vertical form/fill/seal bagger delivers a throughput of up to 250 bpm.

Featuring an IP69K rating and NSF-H1 lubricant, the Festo clean design MPA-C valve terminal has a redundant seal system that allows cleaning with high-pressure jets or foam.

Kollmorgen IP69K-rated AKMH stainless steel synchronous servo motors satisfy EHEDG, NSF, BISSC and 3-A machinery guidelines.

The Campbell Revolution horizontal flow wrapper features an Allen-Bradley servo drive and controls, a digital film feed servo drive, sanitary modular design, servo cutting head drive and production speeds up to 600 packages/min.

The Thiele UltraStar automatic bagging system runs at speeds up to 40 bags/min.

The JBT DSI J-Scan inline inspection system provides corrective feedback to operators using upstream processing equipment or high-speed precision sorting.

Parker Hannifin Series EA polyurethane tubing is formulated to resist degradation resulting from mildew, algae, fungi and biofilm; the antimicrobial additive is fully compounded into the tubing to protect both the inner and outer surfaces.

Available in a range of sizes with 360° print coverage, Automated Packaging Systems AutoSleeve stretch sleeve labels come in clear or white opaque films, both plain and printed in up to 10 colors; they are manufactured in 2-, 3- or 4-mil thicknesses and are 100% recyclable.

Available as non-dusting pellets, Eriez PolyMag additives impart metal detectability, X-ray contrast and magnetic susceptibility into plastic moldings to aid in the detection of plastic contamination in food products.

Built to hold either liquid or granular materials, the Mondi Shaped Pouch is produced in a range of shapes and sizes to promote brand identity.